Chapter Text
Sneaking around the hallways of Rose Tower, I moved as quick as lightning, hugging the shadows and avoiding detection. I hated every second of it. Being away from Ash’s side always felt wrong, but it was especially nerve-wracking when we were deep in enemy territory. But there was no choice; the mission was too important.
Earlier that day, everything had changed in a heartbeat. The spies had called Ash in a frenzy, their voices tinged with panic. Chairman Rose had advanced his plans, they said, and something big was happening today. Ash immediately called Leon, Lance, Cynthia, and our best Ace Rangers. They had all teleported right outside Rose Tower, ready to take action. But getting inside was another matter. We couldn't alert Chairman Rose that we were onto him. We needed to be discreet.
Rose Tower was a fortress, a place that held countless secrets vital to Galar. We needed a way in without causing a scene. That’s why Ash had sent a team of fast, small, and sneaky Pokémon inside to find a way to open the gates for the trainers. And I, Pikachu, was leading that team.
I understood the reasoning behind it all, but I didn’t have to like it. Every instinct in me screamed to be by Ash’s side, to protect him. Instead, here I was, creeping through the enemy’s lair, my heart pounding in my chest.
We moved in silence, my team of small Pokémon following my lead. Eevee, Espurr, and Sobble were all with me, each of them focused and determined. We were a good team, and I trusted them. But the weight of the mission was heavy. We had to succeed; there was no room for failure.
As we rounded a corner, I paused, my ears twitching. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, getting closer. I motioned for the others to hide, and we slipped into the shadows, holding our breaths. A pair of guards walked by, chatting idly. They didn’t notice us, and once they were gone, we continued our journey.
We finally reached a control room, the place we needed to be to open the gates for Ash and the others. The door was locked, but that wasn’t a problem for us. Espurr’s eyes glowed as he used his psychic powers to unlock the door. We slipped inside and quickly got to work.
I jumped onto the control panel, examining the buttons and switches. This was it. If we could just figure out how to open the gates, we could let the others in. Weavile and Inteleon stood guard while Espurr and I worked. I could feel the pressure mounting, but I forced myself to stay calm.
After what felt like an eternity, we found the right controls. I took a deep breath and hit the switch. On the security monitors, I saw the gates of Rose Tower slowly opening. Outside, I knew Ash and the others were ready to storm in.
A wave of relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by a renewed sense of urgency. We weren’t out of the woods yet. We had to regroup with Ash and make sure he was safe. I led my team out of the control room and back through the hallways, moving quickly and quietly.
We met up with Ash and the others just inside the gates. Ash’s face lit up when he saw us, and he gave me a quick nod of approval. “Good job, Pikachu,” he whispered, and I felt a swell of pride. Despite the danger and the stress, we did it. Now it was time to face whatever Chairman Rose had in store for us.
As we moved deeper into Rose Tower, ready for the confrontation ahead, I stayed close to Ash’s side where I belonged. No matter what happened next, I knew we could handle it together.
Ash released his Galarian Slowbro and Galarian Slowking, their psychic powers creating an invisible shroud around us. It wasn’t perfect, but it would buy us some time. Of course, sneaking into the most secure building in Galar was never going to be easy. The moment the gates opened, alarms started blaring. I felt a jolt of adrenaline rush through me. We were halfway to our destination when a wave of dark energy blasted through the hall. If it hadn’t been for Ash’s quick thinking and his aura shields, we would have been sent flying. But the dark energy had dispelled the psychic invisibility.
“Everyone, stay alert!” Ash shouted, his voice filled with determination.
I could see Espurr, Inteleon, and Weavile spring into action, battling the Pokémon from the Rose Tower workers. The Ace Ranger Spies, Gabriel, Donovan, and Lydia commanded their Pokémon with precision and urgency, their focus unshakable. The Champions and their Pokémon left them behind to keep the Rose Tower workers at bay. We had to keep moving, every second counted.
As we rushed through the halls, making our way to Chairman Rose, a Milotic suddenly slammed down in front of us, blocking our path. A Tsareena and Garbodor flanked the beautiful Milotic, their presence intimidating. Standing behind them was Oleana, Chairman Rose’s assistant. Her face was twisted in anger.
“Leon, you traitor!” she spat, her voice filled with venom. “How dare you turn against Galar?”
Leon’s eyes blazed with fury. “I’m saving Galar, Oleana. You and Chairman Rose are the real traitors here.”
Without missing a beat, Cynthia released her Milotic, Glaceon, and Lucario. She turned to the rest of us, her expression resolute. “Go. I’ll handle Oleana. You need to get to Rose.”
Ash, Leon, Lance, and I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. We started running again, hearing the clash of Pokémon behind us. Each step we took was filled with urgency, every corner turned bringing us closer to our goal.
As we ran, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Ash. His face was set in a determined grimace, his eyes focused ahead. I knew he was worried, but he kept pushing forward. He always did. That’s what made him the best. That’s why I stayed by his side, no matter what.
We rounded another corner, the sounds of the battle behind us fading slightly. We had to be close now. My muscles were tense, ready for whatever came next. The thought of facing Chairman Rose filled me with a mixture of excitement and dread. But I knew we had to do this. For Galar. For everyone.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed down the hallway, making us all stop on our tracks. Lance’s Dragonite, Scaled, roared, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area for threats. We all turned towards the noise, ready to fight if necessary.
“Keep moving!” Leon urged, his voice breaking the tension. “We can’t stop now.”
We nodded and resumed our sprint, the final leg of our mission within reach. The halls seemed to stretch on forever, each step echoing loudly in the silence. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of what was at stake.
Finally, we reached the end of the corridor, a massive door looming before us. This was it. Beyond that door was Chairman Rose. I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of our mission pressing down on us.
Ash took a deep breath, his hand reaching for the door. “Ready?” he asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.
We all nodded, our determination mirrored in each other’s eyes. With a final push, Ash opened the door, and we stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever awaited us.
Leon took the lead, and it felt strange to follow someone who wasn't Ash. But this was Galar, and this was Leon’s region, so we followed the lead of the Galarian Champion. As we entered the room, I saw Chairman Rose smirking, looking so victorious and smug. I could feel Ash tense beneath me, and it took me a moment to understand why. Chairman Rose’s expression reminded me of Giovanni, the ex-leader of Team Rocket. Giovanni, who had managed to hide his true nature and fool everyone around him, just like Rose.
My cheeks sparked with anger at the realization. I didn’t trust this man, and I hated that he was making Ash feel this way. Leon stepped forward, demanding answers. “Why are you bringing chaos to our doorstep, Rose? Why summon a Legendary Pokémon that could destroy Galar?”
Rose clapped slowly, like he was mocking us. “Congratulations, Leon. You’ve finally graduated from being a mere battle maniac to a proper Champion. But let’s be honest, this isn’t your victory. It was one of Ash’s famed Ghost Teams that uncovered my plans.”
I felt Ash tense even more. Lance stepped closer to Ash, reminding him that we weren’t alone. Scales, growled low in her throat, echoing Lance’s demand for answers. Chairman Rose sighed, like he was explaining something simple to a child. “After its defeat thousands of years ago by Zacian and Zamazenta, Eternatus’s energy leaked out during its slumber in the form of Galar particles. This resulted in the creation of Power Spots, where Trainers can trigger the Dynamax transformation. However, that energy has been depleted over time, threatening Galar’s future. But I found a way to summon and control Eternatus, all to save Galar.”
Everyone stared at him in horror. He started laughing again, and then, to my surprise, Ash laughed too. It was a sound that cut through the tension, unexpected and sharp.
“You’re a fool, Chairman Rose,” Ash said, his voice steady. “I’m the most experienced person alive when it comes to Legendary Pokémon. Let me give you some advice: stand down. Every time a human thinks they can control a Legendary Pokémon, they end up dead.”
For a moment, Rose’s smirk faltered, but he quickly regained it. “You think you know everything, don’t you, Ash? But this is different. This is for the greater good.”
Ash shook his head. “You’re wrong. Legendary Pokémon are not tools to be used. They are forces of nature, and they will not bend to your will.”
Leon and Lance stood behind Ash, supporting him. I felt a surge of pride. Ash wasn’t just a Champion; he was a protector, someone who truly understood Pokémon.
Chairman Rose’s laughter faded, replaced by a cold look. “You’re too naive, Ash. Sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good.”
Ash’s gaze didn’t waver. “Not like this. Never like this.”
The room fell silent. My sparks faded, replaced by a steely resolve. We were ready to fight, to protect Galar and the world from Chairman Rose’s misguided ambitions. Together, we would face whatever came next, united by our belief in the bond between Pokémon and their trainers.
The moment the explosion echoed through the building, everything started to shake. My heart skipped a beat as I clung tighter to Ash's shoulder. Chairman Rose smirked, a victorious glint in his eyes. "You're too late," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Without missing a beat, Rose released his Copperajah. The massive Pokémon roared, ready to attack, but before he could make a move, Scales met him with a powerful punch, sending him staggering back. Lance turned to Ash and Leon, urgency in his eyes. "Go! Go ahead! We’ll hold them off here!"
Ash and Leon nodded, their faces set with determination. They sprinted towards the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the chaotic hallways. We raced up the stairs, every step filled with desperation. We slammed open the door to the rooftop, almost as if hoping against hope that Chairman Rose was wrong, that there was still time to stop whatever nightmare he had set in motion.
But deep down, I knew better. As soon as we burst onto the rooftop and looked up at the sky, my heart sank. The sky had turned an ominous red, and the clouds swirled around in a terrifying vortex. The air crackled with dark energy, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. There was no stopping it anymore. Eternatus was coming.
