Interlude 1: Resgatar
Her vision was fuzzy; her head banged against a metal wall as she regained consciousness. She would've grabbed something to support herself, were her hands able to move freely. Seeing a pair of cuffs on her wrists, everything clicked.
Her name was Hilda, a Pokémon Trainer from the humble Unovan town of Nuvema. A nefarious group known as Team Plasma had emerged, hoping to separate Pokémon from humans. And she tried to awaken a Legendary dragon, hoping to use its power to put an end to Team Plasma and restore the Unova region.
Taking in her surroundings, the young brown haired woman assumed she was in some kind of police truck. Clenching her fists, she soon remembered N, the "King" of Team Plasma, who would be the catalyst to end the union between humans and Pokémon. The two had fought as the towering Castle of Team Plasma, and seeing where she was, Hilda failed. Despite her bonds with her team, the Pokémon that she had by her side since the beginning, and it was all for nothing.
N was stronger, and Unova was going to fall to Team Plasma's influence.
"This is my legacy." She mumbled to herself in frustration. "Spending the rest of my years in prison, forced to watch trainers give up their Pokémon while I can't-"
"You're awake?" Hilda heard. Looking around, she realized that she wasn't alone, noting the presence of at least four trainers, probably arrested for their own crimes. It didn't take long for her to remember each of them by name. They were Gym Leaders, strong trainers that were deemed the best of the best. And four of them just happened to be with her. She last saw them fighting the literal army of Team Plasma grunts, distracting them long enough for Hilda to slip away and confront N.
Recognizing the maroon haired Skyla of Mistralton City, she asked "What happened?"
"We were overwhelmed." Skyla replied. "We were able to overpower the grunts, but then came that Ghetsis." She shuddered as she continued, "I've never seen such powerful Pokémon before, that monster took on all eight of us, and he somehow beat each and every one of us. I'm convinced that Hydreigon would've tried to eat us if Ghetsis didn't want to keep us alive!"
"Shut up back there!" The driver called out in the front. Hilda didn't hear it, just the thought of a Pokémon strong enough to take on even the best Pokémon raised by a Gym Leader was terrifying.
Ignoring the driver, Skyla continued "I don't have a clue where we're going, or wha-"
"I've git a rough idea." A scruff voice interrupted her. To Hilda's left was the rough speaking but honest Clay of Driftveil City to the West. "If we was able to beat 'em, we wouldn't have to give up our Pokémon, and we wud be on ur way, resumin' our evr'day lives. But we all failed, and since we knows exactly what they're like and kna too much.......there's only one way to silence peoples like us."
It hit Hilda. Team Plasma was going to execute the Gym Leaders, and then they were going to execute her. She should've been scared, fearful over the future she was never going to have, worried about what was going to happen to her family, her best friends of Cheren and Bianca. But no, she was angry at herself, a rage beginning to emerge. Ready to blame herself, Hilda declared "I should go first if that's the case. I failed all of you, none of you are to blame for what happened. I should've been stronger, I-I threw everything I had, and it WAS ALL FOR-"
"Whoa, Hilda. Are you all right?" Skyla interrupted her, a look of worry on her face.
Taking a moment to breathe, Hilda asked with respect "What do you mean, Leader Skyla?"
Noting their reflections in the cold metal of the truck, she replied "Try looking at yourself." Not the best mirror, but Hilda tried to look at herself. She swore she saw a faint tint of red in her deep brown eyes before seeing only herself. "I don't know what you just did, but try not to do that again."
Hilda was almost about to say something, before noticing the truck slowing down and come to a complete stop. Sighing, she was ready to embrace defeat. She couldn't think of anything to say as the doors opened to the outside. Exiting the truck, Hilda was quick to recognize it as Opelucid City, one of the oldest locations in the Unova region.
More specifically, she was standing in the plaza. Taking a moment to look around, Hilda could see worried parents trying to get their children home, not wanting them to see what was going to happen. She would've smiled, knowing that her faith in humanity hadn't dwindled one-a hand to her back made her forget what she was thinking, as she begrudgingly walked forward. Noticing Team Plasma grunts carrying rifles, and donning masks to hide their faces, it hit her.
She was going to be executed by a firing squad, and seeing cameras set up, her execution was going to be broadcasted.
Then she noticed.....him. Bleached green hair, a scarlet eye piece where there should've been an eye, and either a missing arm or an injury forcing him to hide it, she could've recognized Ghetsis from a mile away, maybe ten, especially those gaudy robes he wore to make himself look better than anyone. Directed to a post, Hilda stood in place as she stared at the armed troops, prepared to gun her down. Then that freak just had to monologue, as he declared "Ladies and Gentleman of the Unova region. Team Plasma has won the fight to separate Pokémon from humans. Trainers, prepare to give up your Pokémon. Those who refuse will be punished accordingly." Pointing towards her with his visible arm, Ghetsis continued "This deluded woman believed that she could best us, she believed that she could take on the might of all of Team Plasma, she believed that-" A faint roar interrupted his thoughts, a nearby trio of black cloaked ninjas ready to escort him at the first sign of trouble. Taking a moment to look around, Ghetsis ignored the interruption as he continued "She believed that she could summon a Pokémon powerful enough to take on all of us...."
Another roar, but it was louder. And closer. Choosing to ignore it, he walked to the side as the masked firing squad prepared their weapons, declaring "Fire when ready!" Some of them may have had the regret of killing someone as young as her, Hilda was barely in her mid twenties. But she strongly believed they just didn't care, and to them, anyone that was an enemy of their King was an enemy of them. While she didn't fear death, Hilda closed her eyes not wanting to see it coming. She wondered if N was watching, but more importantly, she was hoping that her mother and brother weren't watching. She dreaded to think how her Mom was goin-
The deafening noise of gunfire suppressed even her own thoughts, as she felt the impact of bullets. Much to her surprise, none of them went through as she anticipated, but the impact was enough to knock her to the ground. She swore hitting the ground actually hurt more than getting shot. Opening her eyes, Hilda noticed her clothes were torn, but she was still alive, the bullets in front of her dented as if they hit an impenetrable wall. "What the hell?!" Ghetsis cried. Before anyone had a chance to react, a black and red winged Pokémon appeared, it's eyes a piercing blue, and a look that screamed hunger. A hooded trainer could be seen on it's back, potentially ordering this undiscovered Pokémon with a feminine voice "Destroy them!" A reddish black beam of energy expelled from its mouth, the life force of the Team Plasma Grunts seemingly ripped out of their bodies as the aviary Pokémon consumed them.
Seizing the opportunity, Hilda got to her feet, noticing that Ghetsis seemingly vanished. She knew the aptly named Shadow Triad had gotten them out of harm's way, now it was time to get herself out of there.
Much to her surprise, the Gym Leaders had vanished, hopefully they were able to retreat or find someplace to hide. Noting the rest of the grunts trying to gun down the giant wyvern, Hilda slipped past them, trying to think of how to get the cuffs off her wrists. She was too distracted thinking of how to get home, as she felt a force suddenly grab her, bringing her close to the Opelucid Pokémon Center.
Hilda also noticed a distinct pink aura emanating around her as she was grabbed, and then a youthful blonde, whose hands were glowing with the same pink aura. She quickly recognized her as Caitlin, a psychic that had served in the Elite Four, a quartet of powerful Pokémon Trainers.
With curiosity, Hilda asked "What are you doing?"
A faint smile on the psychic's face appeared as she replied "I'm saving you." Lowering the young trainer to the ground, Hilda noticed her cuffs glow with a pink light as they harmlessly snapped open. "When we fought at the Pokémon League, I had sensed a power within you. And what just happened-" Caitlin was ready to continue, but the roar of the ebony and scarlet wyvern shut her mouth. "We should retreat. I have a house in Undella Town before that Pokémon notices us. Oh, and here." Raising her hand, Hilda noticed her clothes, her white t-shirt and black vest seemingly restitch themselves, the tearing of bullets no longer visible.
"Uh, thanks." Hilda replied as the two started to run for their lives. As they reached the eastern exit of Opelucid City, she felt a sharp pain in her leg as she stepped in a puddle. Looking down trying not to scream, she noticed a red electrical aura between her leg and the puddle. Raising her leg, the electricity vanished. Caitlin took note of what they just saw. "That was weird."
"Don't think about it, and think about getting out of here!" The sun haired psychic acknowledged. Nodding Hilda continued running with Caitlin close by, only to feel a surge of electricity as she somehow drained a nearby streetlight of it.
"What's going on!?" Hilda exclaimed as her body glowed with a distinct red. The winged Pokémon noticed Hilda's aura glowing brighter and brighter as lightning strikes the color of blood rained from the sky.
Narrowly getting struck by lightning, the trainer on its back declared "Let's out of here, Yveltal. She's too strong." Caitlin noticed the duo retreat as Hilda's power awakened. Thinking the Pokémon was still there, Hilda ran in a panic, with Caitlin hastily following her.
"Hilda wait!" She cried out, only to notice the lightning strikes stop and Hilda nearly collapse from exhaustion. Catching the young woman before she landed face first into the grassy trail of Route 11. Turning her around, Caitlin was quick to put a finger on the trainer's neck, and breathed a sigh of relief as Hilda continued to show signs of life.
***
Caitlin's Diary
...Today was a mess. I just battled a green haired trainer with a ivory dragon by his side. Reshiram was its name, and I couldn't help but behold its beauty. Ever since I moved here from Sinnoh, I never paid too much attention to them, but Unova's legends detail of a conflict arising and a Pokémon of legend would appear to assist one chosen to resolve a great conflict.
Almost as soon as he left, I was ready to rest, only to be interrupted by the presence of another trainer. I sensed a power radiating from her, even greater than the previous trainer, and even if the trainer that called herself Hilda didn't sense it, I could. I didn't sense the counterpart of Reshiram, but I took note of a stone black as night in Hilda's hands. Perhaps the fabled Zekrom resides within this stone. After congratulating her, I saw Hilda off as I went to restore my Pokémon, and think about what I just witnessed.
A good hour or two must've passed before I noticed those Team Plasma soldiers dress in hypocritical attire, and carrying firearms as they convinced me to surrender my Pokémon. I could've stopped them like nothing, but I sensed my friends being held by gunpoint. Marshal I know could put up a fight before a stray bullet him, as good as Grimsley's gambling skills were, he wouldn't bet his life on anything or anyone. And Shauntal.......she was a bookworm and a novelist, not a fighter. I surrendered, knowing to bide my time. We were taken to Opelucid City where I soon noticed Hilda standing, and before her four to five armed soldiers, a firing squad. What scared me was a roar that was interrupting that ostentatious Ghetsis; I knew it anywhere....
The sound of gun fire forced me out of my thoughts as I noticed Hilda seemingly dead on the ground for what felt like minutes. Then I saw the bullets laying around her, but no blood. Before I could comprehend what I saw, then I noticed.....it. Yveltal, the Pokémon of Destruction, devourer of lives both human and Pokémon alike. And there was a girl on the back of Yveltal, for some reason she was strongly interested in Hilda as I saw her get up and run.
Suspecting a greater importance, I dropped my cuffs, and with Marshal's assistance we took out a few of the grunts, as I convinced my friends to save themselves. Marshal said he was going to find Alder and bring him to Floccessy Town in the southwest. Grimsley can handle himself, and I convinced Shauntal to go to Undella Town, promising her that I'd catch up. But Hilda needed help; that's when I noticed lightning coming out of her body, eventually summoning a strike powerful enough to scare off Yveltal. Then she passed out, with me barely catching her. I might be half her age, but since she's a channeler, I will have to train her. She needs a teacher to help her control her power. Now that we're in Undella Town, we start her training as soon as she's ready