Prologue
Johto. Iris never missed anything more than the region her family once called home. She missed How goldenrod city would be bustling with tourists, how the bell tower would stand tall over trees of many colors, how the indigo plateau would always be packed with people waiting to challenge the elite 4 and the champion. In all honesty, it sounded too good to be true, compared to now, that sounds like heaven. But now, Johto has fallen into the hands of the enemy. It happened five years ago.
“This region is falling apart-” she said while pacing.
“Clair-”
“-it’s all that stupid Giovanni’s fault-”
“Clair-”
“-why didn’t those kids in Kanto just finish him off? It’s not hard-”
“CLAIR!” She flinched at the sudden boom of her cousin’s voice, but quickly regained her composure and glared at him.
“What Lance? What is it?” She snapped.
“You need to calm down-”
“Calm down?!,” she yelled, “Lance they started to execute those who refused to join them!” Lance’s crimson red eyes widened.
“That’s why Lorelei was found dead” he mumbled. “Who’s left?”
“Well Falkner, Morty, Whitney and Eusine were all executed.” She stated flatly. Clair stroked her Dragonair that had taken to draping itself on her shoulders.
“We should gather everyone here and storm their stronghold.”
“Isn’t that a little reckless? and where even is their stronghold?”
“Goldenrod’s radio tower. And do you have a better idea?” He scratched at his head for a counter but could not come up with anything.
“That’s what I thought. Call your Elite four. I’ll call the remaining gym leaders.” Clair said. Once everyone had gathered at Blackthorn city gym, Lance and Clair began to tell them the plan. After some additions to the plan, everyone was at an agreement.
“Clair where is grandfather?” Lance asked her while everyone was talking with each other.
“He should be at the dragons den, I’ll check on him.” She replied as she walked out of the gym.
“Hey, Lance! We have a little spy here!” Chuck said holding onto a small girl with thick violet hair.
“Let me go!” She yelled but was drowned out by the noise of everyone else.
“Chuck she’s a kid, she most likely won’t kill you,” He replied, “give her to me.” Chuck let go of the small girl and returned to flirting with the female gym leaders. Lance turned towards the girl.
“Iris, what are you doing here?”
“I want to help fight team rocket!” Iris said enthusiastically. Lance smiled at her.
“Iris as much as I would love to have you help, you’re too young. I don’t want to see you get hurt. Sorry, but the answer is no. And how do you even know about everything?”
“Um... I was..”
“Lance!” A voice called.
“You got lucky this time Iris,” he smirked. Lance went to see who was calling him as Iris had left the gym to her home in the city.
The next day, Filled with fury, they (along with the remaining gym leaders and elite 4) stormed the team rocket base. Little did anyone know, a small girl with her horse was following them from the shadows. The leaders of Johto showed just as much mercy as team rocket did. The dragon Pokemon sensed their master’s rage and fought gallantly against anyone stupid enough to cross their path. That’s when it all went downhill. They had all reached where the man in charge stood proudly, staring down at his new hierarchy. Iris remembers the words he said so clearly.
“Well what a surprise, the descendants of that old loon,” he said coldly. Iris had recognized the man standing at the top and stifled a gasp. Her friend’s father was behind all this?!
“The dragon elder was ten times the man you are” Clair roared.
“Well if that’s the case then how was it easy for me to kill him?” Giovanni said pridefully. Clair had had enough and unleashed her wrath. It took everyone by surprise that one: she did that. And two, he was unscathed. As the dust from Clair’s attack cleared, they had seen why. Standing there was a white and purple Pokemon, it’s tail glowing as it had used protect. (I hate this move.) Giovanni snapped his fingers and the Pokemon complied, sending away everyone, except for Lance and Clair (and unbeknownst to him, Iris).
“Wha-? How is this even possible?!” Clair had screamed. Giovanni had chuckled at Clair’s rage as if it were nothing. He nodded at the mysterious purple and white once Pokemon once and it attacked the two dragon masters. Had Lance not acted so quickly, they would both be dead by now. Standing proudly in front of his partner was a Dragonite.
“You’re not the only one with a Pokemon who knows protect” Lance smirked, “now, Dragon Rage!” Lance’s Dragonite took no hesitation in delivering the blow to this man and his Pokemon. Clair had sent out her strongest as well, her kingdra (her kingdra is a freaking devil) Giovanni stared at the two dragon Pokemon in front of him for a second before commanding.
“Mewtwo, psychic!” Clair’s Kingdra had sped out of the way of the incoming shock. Dragonite was not as lucky. However, he withstood the psychic attack.
“Kingdra use dragon breath!” Clair had commanded the water dragon. Lance had looked at his Dragonite and nodded.** Both Pokemon had proceeded to attack the Mewtwo, only for Mewtwo to teleport out of the way at the last second. Clair growled in frustration. Lance returned his Dragonite, which shocked both Clair and Giovanni. In its place, he sent out his Aerodactyl. Lance and Clair exchanged glances as she caught into the idea.
“Kingdra, smokescreen now!” She ordered. The room filled up with so much smoke that Iris could no longer see the battle.
“Now Aero!” Lance yelled. The Aerodactyl flew above the smoke and charged, at full speed, at Mewtwo; delivering a rather large hyper beam. Mewtwo, unfortunately, didn’t see this coming and got hit with the hyper beam, severely weakening it. They almost had defeated it when Giovanni had said: “you know where to aim.” At an instant, Mewtwo changed targets. Instead if attacking the two Pokemon, the psychic type beast attacked Clair.
“No!” Lance had screamed as she went flying into the wall. Iris let out a small gasp which thankfully went unnoticed. Kingdra let out a howl in concern for her master.
“If you value your cousins’ life, You will surrender and stand down.” Giovanni had said. Lance looked back at where his cousin was sprawled on the ground, unconscious but alive. As much as Lance had tried to stay calm, unlike his temperamental cousin, he could not take it anymore. He released all 6 members of his team.
“As long as I’m still breathing, I will NEVER surrender to the likes of you” he roared, “attack!” He commanded his dragons. All 6 dragons were attacking, feeding off the aura of rage Lance was giving off. They were winning, once again they had the upper Hand. Iris watched in awe as her mentor took on the psychic monstrosity they made. She was hopeful that they would succeed, that they would eradicate the plague upon their region. The psychic Pokemon was weakened greatly, it had slowed down and Lance had shown no sign of stopping.
“Aero, finish it with a crunch” Lance commanded out loud. Lance smirked at his victory against the beast and then thanked his dragons for all they had done before returning them to their pokeballs. Lance had turned to face Giovanni, only to find the man had fled. With Clair. He walked over to where Clair had once lied and searched for something, anything that would help him find his cousin. That’s when he had found the note. After reading, his fists clenched as he threw the note in pure rage and stomped off. Iris slipped out from behind the column and picked up the note. I hoped you enjoyed my distraction, three-headed dragon. But it seems I have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. But don’t worry, I will be back, and I won’t just be taking a gym leader next time. -G.
Only 6 months later, they had struck again. Lance, with those that remained, once again attacked their base. When he had reached the observation deck, he saw her. Clair stood proudly at Giovanni’s side. He broke her. Instead of Giovanni fighting Lance, Clair had challenged him. It was a family vs family. Clair had one advantage over Lance, she knew his weaknesses. She froze the entire place with her Dragonair ice beam. Even the champion was stuck. But that didn’t stop him from trying. Iris watched as Lance had managed to free himself and his Dragonite from the ice sheet covering the floor. Dragonite flew up to attack when Clair pulled the last thing anyone excepted, a gun. She started shooting.
“Dragonite be careful!” Lance said in concern, “Clair what’s wrong with you?!” Clair ignored him as Giovanni chuckled.
“Like my new puppet Lance?” He sneered, “she was a tough one but we eventually got through to her. Now Clair finish him!” He ordered her. That’s when, instead of using her Pokemon, she attacked him physically. Lance has not expected this. Like at all. And was thrown off for a second too long. That second was his downfall. She ran him through a blade.
“NO!” Iris yelled. Lance turned where she was just as the last of his soul left and he collapsed. his eyes once filled with a fiery passion were now dull and lifeless. Giovanni turned to where Lance had been looking before he died But saw nothing. Clair then took the fallen champion’s cloak, a symbol that once represented peace and authority, and wore it herself before leaving with Giovanni. Once the coast was clear, Iris ran to where Lance was lying.
“Nononononononononono” Tears were now flooding Iris’s eyes as Dragonite descended from the air and stared at his master. He hugged Iris and flew her off, obeying his master’s final order. And just like that, Johto had fallen. The gym leaders were nowhere to be found, the elite 4 had surrendered to Clair, who had become the new champion. And team rocket had Johto for themselves.
Five years later, Iris POV
“Kingdra hydro cannon!” I Commanded.
“Dodge haxourus, and use dragon claw!” Drayden commanded his haxourus. Kingdra knew the drill. Dragon claw was that Haxourus’ signature move, I’d know; I have one too. Kingdra jumped up and launched another hydro cannon from above. It was enough to disorient haxourus.
“Now Kingdra finish it with ice beam!” Kingdra was able to knock out Haxourus, the last of Drayden’s overpowered team.
“Well Iris, I’ll be damned. You actually managed to beat me, and with only two members of your team fainting.” He handed me a cloak.
“Most people who become masters at the village of dragons end up with one of these. I know that Blackthorn was your home so I had one brought here for you” Drayden told me.
“Congratulations Iris, you now are an official dragon master. Not to mention the last one from the village.”
“Thank you Drayden, for everything,” I told him as I hugged him.
“You’ve earned it” he smiled at me as I was leaving. (At least I think he did. It’s hard to tell with that mustache of his). I walk down the familiar path to the Pokemon center to heal up my team.
“Iris!!” A voice called out. I turned to see my best friend Bianca running towards me. She squishes me in a hug.
“I heard the news and I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on becoming a certified dragon master!”
“Thanks, Bianca, I just wish he was here to see this” Sympathy passes over her face.
“Iris we both know he’s sitting up there cheering for you, he’s proud of you Iris, trust me he’s so so proud”
“Okay” I hug her as she bids me farewell (most likely to go on a date with Cheren again.) After healing them, I call out my Pokemon; The same Dragonite that stayed with me since Lance was killed years ago.
“Dragonite, are you ready?” She nodded, “come on let’s fly, we have a champion to dethrone. To Johto!” My Dragonite took to the skies. I’m coming for you Clair, you and Giovanni are going to pay for what you did to Lance and the elder.
** those of you who don’t know (or have yet to read the manga) Lance has the ability to communicate with any Pokemon and order them telepathically. Giovanni and Yellow have a similar ability (I think) but it happens because they were raised in the Viridian forest.
