Pokemon - Odyssey

Night had fallen over Appaloosa, and as the Elements and Pokemon trainers snuck towards the resort, Twilight's eyes furrowed upon seeing the resort entrance through her telescope.

"What's up?" Ash asked.

"Take a look." Twilight replied. Ash peered through the lens, and to his surprise, ponies were loading box after box of Blue Azurite into containers.

"I was right!" Abigail said. "They are mining that stuff!"

"And considering they didn't apply for a mining permit, illegally." Twilight said.

"We can't just waltz in there." Matthew pointed out. "Even with our Pokemon, we're outnumbered."

"So, what now?" Pinkie asked.

"We need find their mineshaft and put it out of business, that's what!" Rainbow said.

"No, that'll cause too much of a disturbance!" Twilight said. "We need to get in there WITHOUT causing a scene."

"Um, guys?" Abigail asked. "Why's the ground sinking?"

Then, the group of sixteen vanished below ground. As they slid down a sand-slicked tunnel, they stopped abruptly as they landed.

"What was that?" Nate asked.

"I think it was an air shaft for whoever's down here." Matthew said, dusting himself off. "And speak of the devil!"

He picked up a chunk of Blue Azurite. Then, something pulled it from his hand. Ash then saw two Geodude and a Golem appear, the Golem clutching the Azurite.

"Gole!" The Golem cried, then he motioned to a tunnel.

"Wait!" Matthew said upon seeing Rainbow ready to fight the Rock/Ground type. "I think he wants us to follow them. Alright, Twilight, get to the surface and see if you can contact or find Clay. We'll head out with the Golem and Geodude and see what's going on here."

"Right." Twilight said, as she and her group teleported out. The group of ten followed the three Pokemon for a while, until they stopped at an enormous cavern, lined not only with Blue Azurite, but other precious gems and ores. Matthew was surprised to see various Rock, Steel, and Ground-Type Pokemon, along with countless Sableye, harvesting the ore and gems and separating them into piles.

"Wow." Was all they could say. Then, they heard footsteps. They turned to find a Krookodile approaching them, and it was wearing an old miner's jacket.

"Krook!" The Intimidate Pokemon cried.

"Hi." Matthew said. Krookodile nodded, and motioned them over to a wall of granite, which was lined with cracks.

"Dile!" Krookodile called, handing Matthew what he recognized as a broken Pickaxe head.

"I see!" Matthew said. "You need that Blue Azurite too, and Rivera's stealing it!"

Krookodile nodded.

"And that would mean the miners have tried getting through here before?" Ash added, and Krookodile gave an affirmative huff. Then, the ground rumbled. Matthew placed his ear to the granite, and he heard faint voices.

"Set the charges!"

"...Charges set!"

"I think they're trying to get in!" Matthew cried. "GET BACK!"

As the humans and Pokemon scrambled for cover, the granite wall blasted open. Miners swarmed in, followed by Rivera.

"I thought I told you this was private property?" He told Matthew.

"You didn't." Matthew replied. "We know what you're up to."

"What am I up to?" Rivera asked.

"You're mining this Azurite illegally, stealing the food these Pokemon need to survive in the process, and I can presume you blocked up the wells in Appaloosa in order to force them out?" Matthew said. "You're not getting away with this!"

"I already have!" He laughed. "Once you're buried with the truth, nopony will stop me!"

"You didn't count on us, thought, pardner."

Rivera turned to see Twilight and the Elements, along with Clay, stride up. Clay's Excadrill, newly-evolved Seismitoad, and newly-caught Dugtrio growled, ready for battle. Clay laughed, and swung his shovel down into the earth.

"We're bringing you to justice!" Clay cried.

"As if!" Rivera cried, his thugs readying their pickaxes and charging.

"Excadrill, Drill Run! Seismitoad, Surf! Dugtrio, Earth Power!" Clay cried. As Excadrill linked his claws and spun at breakneck speed, Seismitoad spat a plume of water, while Dugtrio's heads slammed the earth, sending a pillar of energy towards the miners. As the miners scattered, Rivera tried to flee, only a very angry Twilight to block his path.

"You're under arrest!" She cried.

"You won't get me!" Rivera spat, throwing a knife at Twilight. Twilight screamed, but before the knife could kill her, something blocked its path. Twilight opened her eyes to see Excadrill clutching the knife in his steel claws.

"Thanks, Excadrill!" Twilight said.

"Dri!" Excadrill replied.

"No!" Rivera cried. He tried to run again, but a smack on the head from Clay's shovel stopped him cold.

"Let's deal with this varmint, shall we?" Clay said, binding the criminal with rope.

"Yes, let's." Twilight sighed. As Twilight and the others headed for the surface, the Pokemon waved goodbye before sealing the tunnel to prevent anyone else from disturbing them.

=======

"Glad that's over." Twilight said as they boarded the train back to Ponyville. Clay had left earlier, promising to tell Chase's family that he was okay. Rivera had been arrested and his resort closed, much to the relief of the Appaloosan citizens. As they soon slept peacefully, back in the human world and late at night, a girl approached Sycamore's lab. She was about Chase's age, with long and curly oaken hair. She smiled as Professor Juniper greeted her.

"Did you enjoy your trip, Hilda?" She asked.

"'Yep." Hilda replied. "Who else is coming here?"

"I think you're it for now." Juniper replied. "Let's get you to a bed. You must be tired!"

"Thanks." Hilda said. As they headed inside, all was quiet.