Hello everyone, and welcome to Salvation! Before we start, be warned that this fic is in a Conquest AU. That means it's a medieval epic. So please, drop a review to let me know what you think!
Lance looked out over the broken plateau, piercing yellow eyes scanning the battlefield. A long cape billowed in the wind behind him as he watched the final chapter of the war unfold. The armies slammed together, the united forces of the living finally meeting the Ghost Queens legions. The front lines erupted in chaos, blasts of flame and lighting tearing into the hordes of the dead.
As Lance watched the chaos unfold, the battle turned in an instant. His thick brow furrowed as the line wavered under the ferocity of the undead assault. Hundreds of men turned tail and ran rather than face the relentless attacks of the undead army. In moments, the most powerful fighting force that had ever been assembled fractured into less than half of its strength. The remaining forces rallied around a pair of dragons that stood in the centre of the army, attempting to hold the line as the dead surged forward.
"The Kantoans have abandoned us, " he said, voice shaking with cold fury. He tore his helm from his head, revealing a sweaty mess of cropped red hair. "We must strike now, " he fumed, fists tightly clenched as he watched in horror.
"My King," hailed one of the Kantoans, a mighty Oak tree emblazoned on his chest plate. He pulled his helm off in a show of respect as he approached the King, the guardsmen surrounding Lance tending up as he did so. "Kanto stands wi-" He doubled over as Lance shouldered past the guardsmen in front of him and buried his fist in Oaks armoured stomach.
"Enough lies, Lord Oak," Lance spat as he towered over the younger man. "You have proven that Kantoans have no honour, as your father did before you." He gritted his teeth, fury etched into every line on his face. He turned back towards the battle and stepped away from his vassal, releasing a pair of slender dragonair from their balls. "Every drop of Johtan blood will be repaid a thousandfold." The two dragonair launched off the cliffside, lithely slipping through the battle towards the dragons.
A slender man stepped out of the crowd of elites, purple robes out of place among the heavily armoured soldiers. "Your Grace, I will aid Queen Mira." He bowed his head in reverence, face obscured by the mask he wore.
"Thank you, Will." Lance turned back to the battle as Will disappeared with a faint pop. He stepped back to the edge of the cliff, mind racing through possible actions. Every second spent cost him countless lives as the dead tore through his army.
Lord Oak rose to his feet, panting for breath. "I cannot allow this," he said, helped to his feet by his squire. The few Kantoans rallied to his side, weapons bristling at the Johtan elites that stood with Lance. "You will not threaten my people," he said through gritted teeth. He drew his blade as Lance slowly turned to face him. "I vowed to serve you in the interest of my people. If you are to betray our respect so callously, then you are not deserving of their support." He lifted his blade and pulled his shield off his back, defiantly meeting Lance's piercing yellow eyes with his own.
Lance donned his helm with a murderous glare. "My wife is on that field, commanding the army that your countrymen have abandoned," he snarled at Oak, drawing his own blade slowly and deliberately. "This treachery has put my family at risk, " he roared at Oak, his men bristling as the Kantoans mirrored them.
"Kanto has fought this war at your side for three years. We have proven time and time again that we are your loyal vassals," Lord Oak pleaded. He shook his head. "Lance, we have come too far to throw this away."
Lance curled his lip into a sneer, glaring at Oaks pitiful plea. "I'm afraid that you already have, " he murmured, his blade raised unto a fighting stance. He shouted a wordless cry as he charged towards Lord Oak. His men thundered after him, charging their former allies eagerly.
A torrent of flames erupted between them, heralding the arrival of a massive charizard. It landed with a crash, growling menacingly at the Johtans. A short, stocky man clad in simple leather riding armour slid off the back of the beast, rushing towards Lord Oak.
"Samuel!" shouted Lance. "I should have known that you were behind this, old man. What is the meaning of this?" He looked up to the sky, eyes searching the clouds for an imposing shadow. "Dragonite!" His massive pokemon dropped from the clouds like a rock, wings tucked back against its armoured scales. It landed with a thud behind Lance, glaring at the smaller charizard that dared defy its master. Lance stepped forward, his face twisted in rage under his helm. "Explain your treachery, Elder. Why do your men flee the field?"
Samuel Oak turned to look at Lance, mournfully regarding his former apprentice. "This battle is lost. We have been betrayed." He looked at the man that had once been his protégé and sighed, knowing that his words would mean nothing to the furious young man. "Lord Flint and Lady Kasumi are dead. Someone has assassinated our leadership." He pointed out at the Johtan army. "Your wife refused to retreat, but my men have broken," he said grimly. "We must retreat and regroup."
Lance glowered at the Elder, blade quivering with anger and anticipation. "Coward," he spat. "I looked up to you for years, even after you cast me out." He raised his sword. "No more!" He charged, leading with his blade. The Johtans charged with him, yelling war cries that were drowned out by the thundering roar of Lance's dragonite.
The charizard launched itself into the air, intercepting Lance's dragonite before it could get off the ground. The two dragons tumbled off the edge of the plateau, tearing at each other with reckless abandon. The separated as they fell, wings carrying themselves away from each other and into the storm clouds that hung over the battlefield.
A pair of flashes erupted from the charging Johtans. An armoured beast roared before it had even finished forming from the brilliant beam of light. The rhydon lowered its horn and charged the massive turtle that roared a response. It shouldered its way through the streams of pressurized water that slammed into its form, meeting Oaks blastoise in a contest of strength. The blastoise skidded backwards, grinding to a halt as it held fast to the larger rhydon.
A hellhound leapt over the rhydon, landing deftly on the blastoise's shoulders. It sank its jaws into the turtle's shoulder, flames eating at the massive turtle's fleshy shoulder. The blastoise roared in pain, releasing the rhydon and flailing desperately at the houndoom tearing at its exposed flesh. The rhydon reared back and drove an armoured foot into the turtle's chest. It toppled backwards onto its shell, desperately trying to flip itself over as the houndoom ripped at its throat.
Samuel Oak deflected Lance's thrust into the dirt. He kicked the dragon tamer away from him as he backed towards his son. "We cannot stay here," he said hurriedly. Lance charged him again, forcing him onto the defensive even as Lord Oak leapt to his father's defence.
Lord Oak intercepted Lance's blade with his shield, forcing Lance to retreat or leave himself exposed. Lance pressed against Oak's guard, attempting to force an opening. He pulled back before Oak could gut him with his own blade, throwing the younger man off balance. Lance bashed the pommel of his sword into Oak's face as he stumbled forward. Lord Oak crashed to the craggy stone in a heap, holding his bloodied face.
Samuel swung his blade wildly, attempting to clear enough room for his son to recover. Lance knocked his swing aside effortlessly, advancing on the older man.
"So this is how they will tell the story?" Lance asked contemptuously as he locked his old teacher's blade against his own. "The heroic young pupil cast out by his mentor finally reunites with his former mentor." He shook his head. "Only to have his trust betrayed." He pushed Oak's blade aside and kneed him in the gut. "There must be consequences."
Lance pressed his attack, battering aside Samuel Oak's ineffectual parry and knocking his sword out of his hands. Lance planted his foot into the Elder's chest and kicked him to the ground. "I should never have trusted you after what you did." He raised his blade to deliver the killing blow. "It's time for you to face the consequences."
Lord Oak slammed into Lance from behind, taking them both to the ground. Lance rolled with the momentum, springing back to his feet and readying his blade again.
Lord Oak pulled his father to his feet, turning to face Lance together. "Kanto will never stand with you after this," said Lord Oak. "You have destroyed this alliance on the eve of its greatest achievement."
Lance leered at them, anger and hate etched into his face. "So be it. Johto is stronger alone." He stepped towards them, bringing his blade up to block Lord Oak's. Lance parried the swing, knocking Lord Oak off balance. He turned and battered aside a thrust from the Elder, sending the older man stumbling with a brutal kick to the chest. Lord Oak attempted an overhead swing, trying to force Lance back. Lance intercepted the blade with his own and deflected it into the ground. With one smooth motion he brought his blade back up, ramming it through Lord Oak's armoured chestplate and out his back.
Lord Oak slumped against Lance, barely able to support his own weight. He looked up at his liege, blood leaking from the edge of his mouth. "Kanto will never submit," he said with as much strength as he could muster. "We will fight you until the last man."
Lance forced his sword deeper into Lord Oak's chest. "I look forward to it," he whispered. Lance ripped his blade free of the young Lord's chest in a spray of blood. Adrenaline coursing through him, he admired his handiwork with a triumphant grin.
Lord Oak stumbled forwards, falling to his knees and coughing up a glob of blood. "Father!" he called weakly, before dropping to all fours. He attempted to rise but his limbs failed to hold his weight, sending him crashing to the ground.
Samuel Oak stumbled over to his son, abandoning his battle with Lance. "I am here, boy," he said, rolling his son onto his back and taking his hand. He looked up at Lance with hate in his eyes. "You will pay for this," he said with a calm fury in his voice.
Lance turned away from him, looking up at the dragons that had emerged from the clouds, tangled in battle. "I doubt that, old man." He sheathed his blade. "Kanto will burn for your betrayal in time." He turned back to the Oaks, smiling viciously. "I have more important matters to attend to."
The dragons crashed to the ground, shaking the cliff side. The charizard was pinned to the rock by the larger dragonite, a large gash marring the charizard's scaly side. The dragonite roared as it lifted the charizard off the ground and slammed it back down to the earth.
"Dragonite!" Lance called. The beast looked up at its master with barely restrained bloodlust. "Leave the vermin," he ordered. "You have a much greater foe today."
The dragonite roared and lifted the charizard again. The massive beast hurled Oak's charizard across the plateau, sending the beast crashing to a halt on the edge of the cliff. It roared again, daring the smaller dragon to rise and challenge its superiority again.
Oak's charizard stirred, stretching out her wings cautiously. She slowly lifted herself to her feet, staring defiantly back at the dragonite.
Lance turned to his men, looking out at the field. "Today we free Johto from the grip of the dead." He took one of the silver balls from the holster on his hip. He tapped the centre of it and released a dragonair. The long, slender dragon stretched to her full height, before lowering herself and allowing Lance to mount her.
His men mirrored him, releasing their own pokemon and preparing for battle. The rhydon and houndoom joined their masters, leaving the blastoise a bloody mess on the plateau. They spread out across the edge of the cliff, preparing for their charge. The few Kantoan soldiers that had faced them lay dead or dying in growing puddles of blood.
"For too long, we have stood in the shadows of Kantos might!" he shouted. "Too long, Johto has chafed under the rule of the dead." He pointed his sword forward. "Today we take Indigo back for the living!" His dragonair launched from the cliff, followed by the rest of the war party. They thundered across the plain in moments, slamming into the hordes of the dead and crashing through them like an unstoppable wave. Lance's dragonite rose above the battlefield, blue dragon fire streaming from its maw. It dove into the hordes of the dead, tearing through them with unrivalled ferocity.
"My Lord," started the elder Oak, ignoring the triumphant roars of Lance's dragons. "We must go." He blinked back a tear, knowing his son wasn't capable of moving. "Your people still need you," he said desperately.
Lord Oak sat up with a struggle, supported by his father. "You don't need me," he said bitterly, clutching at his chest. "Not like this." He breathed in heavily, his breath ragged and pained. "Viridian needs a Lord," he panted. "And Kanto needs a King to face Lance."
"I understand, my son." The Elder Oak bowed his head. "I am sorry," he said softly. "For everything."
"Don't be," he replied. "Call the banners to Viridian." He coughed violently, retching up another glob of blood. "Lance will move on it first." He looked up at his father weakly, taking his hand. "You won't have much time," he said softly. "Lance will not wait to consolidate his power here."
"I know," replied the Elder. "I have time for this." He lifted his son and cradled his weakening body against his chest. "We have time for this."
Lord Oak looked up at his father, the life fading from his eyes. He mumbled something unintelligible and smiled softly. "S'not ev'n cold," he said quietly. He opened his mouth as if to say something again, then stopped as the life left his body. His head drooped forwards and his hand fell from his father's grasp.
Samuel Oak gently lay his son on the ground, sobbing silently. He closed the man's eyes and placed the hilt of his son's blade in his hands. "Flare," he said quietly. He took the trio of pokeballs off his son's belt and stood up to look at his dragon.
His charizard stirred from where it had been watching. The dragon lumbered over to her master, footfalls seeming unnaturally muted. She nuzzled her scarred snout into her master's shoulder, a soft rumble escaping her throat.
"Burn him," Oak said. "Don't let him come back." He turned away as his charizard opened her jaw, immolating his son's body with a stream of flames. Oak bowed his head in silence as his pokemon worked. The searing heat vanished and Oak felt a soft nudge against his shoulder. Oak absentmindedly reached out, patting Flare's rough orange snout. "Can you fly?" he asked.
Flare shook her head, stretching out her injured wing for Oak to survey. Oak ran his fingers along the tattered wing, grimacing. "Won't be anything I can do about it here," Oak said. He pulled one of the balls off his belt and tapped it against Flare's wing. The dragon disappeared in a flash of brilliant white light, returning to the ball and leaving Oak by himself on the cliff.
He lifted one of his son's balls and tapped the button. The white light coalesced into the figure of a shaggy red-orange dog that stood as high as Oak's shoulder. His son's arcanine nuzzled up against him, happy to see a friendly face. "Arcfire," Oak started. "Gerald is gone." The arcanine whimpered softly, looking around for his master and whining softly when he didn't find him. "You have to go to Viridian," Oak said.
The arcanine lowered himself to the ground, allowing Oak to clamber atop him. "I am not going," he said "You must go." Oak ordered. A blast of brilliant light drew both dog and trainer's attention.
Lance's dragonite was flying above the battlefield, a brilliant beam of light streaming from its maw. The beam tore through the ranks of dead men and mon that approached the Johtan army. A second pair of dragonite rose from the heart of the Johtan army, spewing hyper beams of their own into the hordes of the dead.
The battle turned as the dragons continued their onslaught, hordes of the dead being reduced to bloody pieces in an instant. The living men and mon on the ground easily dispatched the remnants of the hordes, forcing themselves closer to the citadel of Indigo.
Oak watched as the doors of Indigo slowly swung open. Even from the great distance away, he saw the massive metal gates open and could swear he heard the grinding of metal on rock as they opened. Oak slipped away from his son's arcanine and stared in disbelief. "Those gates have never opened willingly…" he trailed off, staring at the exposed citadel. He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, and turned to face the arcanine.
"Take this," he started, slinging his pack over the dog's head. "Take it directly to Gary." The old man took Flare's ball off his belt and stuffed it into the pack along with his sons. "Don't stop until you are there." He pulled away from Arcfire, looking back at the citadel as the arcanine dashed away from the cliff side. "I'm coming, dearest." He jumped off the cliff, releasing a pokemon from one of the balls as he fell.
The massive bird materialized beneath him, wings outstretched and already flaring to catch the wind. Oak landed on the pidgeot, hugging himself against the tan feathered bird's back. "To the citadel, Zephyr!" he ordered. "We have a part to play yet."
His pidgeot screeched a response before flapping its powerful wings. It rocketed off across the battlefield, swooping low over the ground. Oak clutched tightly to the bird, praying that the dragons above wouldn't notice the tan blur streaming towards the citadel.
A deafening roar spoiled his hopes. Oak glanced upwards, eyes searching the sky for a telltale flash of the dragonite's hyper beam. Oak's eyes widened, seeing the imposing form of a dragonite bearing down on them. He pulled hard to the side, sending Zephyr into a roll that stymied the youngest dragonite's attempt to end Oak. It crashed to the ground, tumbling along the rocky plateau and crashing to a halt. The roar of pain echoed above the sounds of battle, drawing the attention of the other pair of dragonite.
Zephyr shot through the gates of Indigo, immediately flaring his wings and banking to avoid one of the citadel's interior walls. Zephyr flapped madly, attempting to kill his momentum before he hit something solid. The bird's left wing connected with the wall as he flapped madly. Zephyr landed awkwardly, skittering to a halt on talons that weren't meant for walking. Zephyr gave a triumphant squawk and puffed out his chest, looking immensely proud of himself.
Oak slipped off his bird's back and looked back the way they had come. "Good bird," he said calmly. "Rest now, we will have need of your services later." He returned the pidgeot to his ball, taking stock of his surroundings. The citadel was abandoned as it had been the day he had left. Not a single brick was out of place, and the cobblestone path he had landed on showed no signs that the city had been home to armies of the dead.
"Samuel?" asked a soft, weak voice. "Is that you?" The voice floated through the empty citadel, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. Hushed undertones strained themselves under the voice, threatening to break free at any moment.
Oak wheeled around, looking around what had once been a market square for the source. "Dearest, is that you?" he asked cautiously. "I came back. Just like I said I would."
A rush of spectral wind blasted through the market square, pushing Oak to the ground and tearing at exposed skin. "LIES!" the voice hissed, a multitude of voices competing to be heard. "You left us to ROT!" The wind stopped and the citadel grew eerily quiet. A young woman in pale grey robes, skin white as snow appeared in front of Oak, looking down at him. Her face was obscured by shadows, winds whipping off her as if she was the source of the demonic hurricane. "Trapped us here in the DARK!" The wind blew again, pushing Oak back into the ground as he attempted to rise.
She stepped forward, her pale grey hair unmoving in the spectral wind. "Agatha dearest, I-" Her hand slammed into Oak's throat, cutting him off with an icy cold grip. "I came back to take you away from here," he choked out through Agatha's grip. She tightened her grip, lifting Oak off the ground by his throat. Oak could feel the life being sucked out of his body, strength fading with every second. "I… love… you…" Oak coughed out.
Agatha released him and disappeared, dissipating into dust as the wind whipped through the square again. "Samuel…" her voice called. "It hurts so much." Her voice grew distant, blowing away on the wind. "Help me Sam…"
Oak struggled to his feet, gingerly touching the cold blue marks that Agatha's hand had left on his throat. "I'm trying to dearest," he said softly. "I promise you that I'm trying." He started off through the citadel, passing by empty barracks and deserted stables. Not a single noise or entity greeted him until he reached the keep that towered over the rest of the citadel.
"Agatha," Oak said sharply, greeting the mangled figure of a dead woman that appeared at the gates of the keep. "Will you allow me to enter?"
The corpse looked up from the ground, eyes meeting his. Rot and decay stared at him, an undead fire behind her eyes holding the shambling corpse upright. She raised the stump of her left arm and waved Oak through as the ancient doors slowly creaked opened.
The shadow of a dragon appeared over Oak's shoulder, blocking out the meagre sunlight. It landed in front of the gates to the keep, glaring menacingly at Oak. Lance appeared behind it, his dragonair slithering up beside his dragonite. He slipped off the dragon and drew his blade. "So," he spat venomously. "You are the traitor."
Oak raised his blade as the shambling corpse at his side collapsed. "No," he replied. "I would never betray my own."
"Then why do you stand before me?" Lance shouted, his dragonite growling menacingly behind him. "Let us end this godforsaken war. Enough people have given their lives for this."
Oak shook his head. "I cannot let you do that," he said solemnly. His free hand dropped to his belt, releasing the pokemon that Oak had raised for decades. "There is much that you do not understand. You must leave this place." His blastoise and venasaur growled behind him, glaring at the dragons that looked down on them. "You have played into Agatha's hands," he said, half pleading with Lance. "Please, you must leave."
Lance grinned and slowly reached up to his shoulder with his free arm. "I will do no such thing," he said as he removed his cape. He took a step towards Oak, glaring at the blastoise and venasaur that stood behind his former teacher. "This is your penance," he said solemnly. "You cast me out before I was ready." He swung his blade in an arc around him, drawing closer to Oak with every step. "And now you stand against the side of the living." He grinned and stopped just outside the range of Oak's blade. "This war is at its end. It is time to put an end to your treachery, Elder."
Oak dropped his hand to his belt, quickly releasing the pokemon that still sat in their balls before Lance could make a move. An alakazam was the first to materialize, followed quickly by a massive four armed beast and a man-sized bug with blades for arms. Oak stepped back, bringing his blade up to block Lance's as he did so.
A thundering roar from Lance's dragonite interrupted the battle, forcing Lance and Oak to separate and cover their ears. Oak's pokemon responded with roars of their own, sound drowned out by the rumbling of the dragonite's roar. Oak pointed at the dragonite, shouting words that were lost in the cacophony of sound.
Oak's blastoise opened its maw, spewing a vortex of ice and snow towards the pair of dragons. The dragonair avoided the icy blast, lithely slipping away from the attack and moving to intercept the machamp that bounded towards it. The dragonite withstood the polar vortex, roaring in pain as the snow and ice battered at its armoured hide. The snow and ice ceased, giving Lance's dragonite a momentary respite before a storm of razor sharp leaves erupted from the venasaur's back and shot towards the massive dragon.
"It's useless, old man!" Lance shouted over the leaf storm. "You will not stand in the way of progress!" He charged forwards, forcing Oak onto the defensive with a flurry of blows. His dragonair collided with the machamp as he did so, throwing the beast back towards the scyther. The lithe dragon charged towards them, descending on the pair with beastly ferocity.
Oak kicked at Lance's chest as he charged, catching the younger man in his side. Lance grunted in pain, stunned momentarily by the kick. He dropped his guard for an instant and was rewarded with the flat of Oak's blade slamming into the side of his head.
"I don't want to fight you," Oak said. "You were like a son to me once." Oak sheathed his blade and stepped back from the dragon master. "You can be again." He removed his sheath and dropped it to the ground in between them. "Come back to me," he said, pleading with every word. "I can explain all of this."
Lance shouted a wordless cry, suddenly charging his former mentor. He raised his blade to strike him down. A loud crack and a flare of light erupted in front of Lance. He flew backwards, tumbling along the cobblestone. Oak's alakazam shone with psychic power as it protected its master.
Lance pushed himself to his feet, looking furiously at the pokemon that had just foiled his revenge. "Dragonite!" he shouted up to his pokemon. The beast looked down at him and rumbled an acknowledgement. "End this charade!"
The dragonite roared triumphantly and stepped towards the two pokemon facing it. A massive bolt of lightning erupted from the dragonite's horns. It jumped to Oak's blastoise, frying its nervous system and sending it toppling to the ground in a twitching heap. It opened its maw as the venasaur desperately loosed another storm of razor leaves at it. Oak had to turn his head away as a torrent of flames erupted from the dragonite's maw and roasted his venasaur alive. Oak barely heard Zephyr's screeching cry as he dove towards the dragonite. His bird slammed into the ground lifelessly, twitching madly as the dragonite poured electricity into its hollow bones.
A loud crack and a muffled shriek drew Oak's attention to the dragonair. It uncoiled from the scyther, releasing the dying bug. The scyther attempted to flee, but its wings failed and it crashed into the dirt. It buzzed weakly, green ichor leaking from its ruined carapace. Oak's machamp bellowed in anger and charged the dragonair, blood leaking from a multitude of gashes all across its body. The dragonair launched into it, sinking its jaws into the machamp's shoulder as its body coiled around it to crush the life from its foe.
Lance looked up at his dragonite, a vicious grin worn on his face. "Hyper beam!" he ordered. The massive dragon reared back, a glowing ball of energy gathering in its maw.
Oak looked up at the dragonite, resigned to his fate. He closed his eyes, expecting oblivion's embrace to find him. His alakazam flared with energy, appearing in front of him with a pop. It held its spoons up, directing all the energy it could muster into one final desperate barrier.
The dragonite opened its maw, the scream of brilliant energy drowning out all sound. The alakazam exploded with psychic energy, bringing a barrier to life an instant before the hyper beam landed. Oak was thrown backwards, through the doors of the keep. He tumbled head over heels, landing on his back. He looked up with a groan as the gates slowly closed. The last thing he saw was his alakazam drop to one knee as its barrier faltered against the hyper beam. The gates slammed shut and he felt the earth shake as his last pokemon finally was defeated.
He closed his eyes as the roar of the hyper beam faded, telling him that nothing remained of the team he had spent his entire life training. He slowly forced himself to his feet, looking around the hall warily.
"Samuel!" hissed Agatha's voice, coming from directly to his side. "They have broken my seal on the citadel." She appeared across the hall from him, glowing with a pale sickly light. The pale young woman seemed to emanate black energy, her arms and legs obscured by the shadows that streamed off of her. "They are coming to kill us!" she hissed. The ominous wind blasted through the keep, whistling through the slit windows and blasting Oak against the closed door. "You brought them here!" she accused, appearing over Oak.
"No!" he shouted. "You were betrayed by Fuji." He rose to one knee, struggling against the spectral wind. "I came to help you escape."
The woman threw her head back and laughed. "There is no escape from the Spiritomb," she spat. "You knew that when you imprisoned me here." She shook her head, another blast of spectral wind forcing Oak back down to all fours. "Your spirit is strong. You will JOIN US!" she shouted, a cacophony of voices overwhelming her own. The wind shifted and a storm of purple miasma tore free of Agatha's body. The collective spirits imprisoned with Agatha's soul swirled around the room, sucking all natural light from the air.
The doors burst inwards, a pair of Lance's dragonair slipping through the doorway. They reared up, recoiling from the miasma as it burned at their scaly hides.
"ENOUGH!" screeched Agatha. She took a step towards the door and began stalking away from Oak. She raised one arm, tendrils of energy lancing out and ripping through the dragonair on the left's hide. The beast shrieked in pain as the black tendrils tore into its heart and silenced it. The beast fell in a heap, dead before it had collapsed to the floor.
It's partner screeched in anger, a brilliant ball of swirling energy gathering in its maw. Agatha disappeared as the dragonair loosed a pulse of draconic energy that ripped into the ancient stone wall where she had been standing mere moments before. She reappeared behind the dragon, calmly placing her hand on the beast's flank. It recoiled from the touch, seizing up as its heart ground to a halt and refused to pump blood.
Agatha turned and raised her arms, the ominous wind whipping past her and out the doors of the keep. A pair of ghostly figures appeared at her side, cackling madly. "Begone, Wataru!" she ordered in a voice that strained under the multitude of tones and forces underneath. "Your clan is not welcome here!" The spirits at her side leapt forward, diving into the shadows that streamed off of Agatha.
Oak seized upon the opportunity, dashing away from the fighting and deeper into the keep. "Agatha!" he called, yelling into the darkness. "Your apparitions will never hold them off!" He ran as fast as his battered old body could take him, rounding the corner and heading for the stairwells that led deeper into the citadel.
The keep rumbled as if in response. "I am SPIRITOMB!" the voice shrieked, all traces of Agatha's voice consumed by the other spirits. "Defy my will at your peril!" The keep shook violently, chunks of ancient stone falling apart after standing unmoving for generations. The floor dropped out from underneath Oak, plunging him into darkness as he fell. "JOIN US!" the voices screeched in anger. The keep shook as unearthly forces ripped apart the interior, clearing Oak's path as he fell and reshaping the ancient castle around him.
Oak smacked off a wall that slanted up to meet him, landing heavily on a staircase that formed out of the darkness. He rolled down the stairs, violently coming to a rest at the base of the huge staircase. He groaned heavily, attempting to roll to his side. "Agatha," he called weakly, groaning in pain as he felt his broken ribs shift. "Where are you?"
He heard a creak and something shuffling towards him. "I'm here Sam," said a tired old voice. "You finally came."
He rolled onto his side, eyes searching the shadows for the Ghost Queen. "I did," he said, wheezing heavily. "Just like I said." He pushed himself up into a sitting position, leaning against the staircase for support. "Where are you, dearest?"
She stepped into the meagre light, leaning heavily on her staff. Her body had aged rapidly in the years since Oak had last seen her. She shuffled forwards, bony white fingers clinging to her staff to support herself. "You're late," she said venomously. "I was beginning to think you'd never come back." She stepped forward again, hunched over and clutching to her staff for support. "Figures I'd have to lay the sword to Kanto for you to come running." She chuckled and approached Oak, dropping to one knee with an extreme effort. "Did you forget about our agreement?
"No," Oak panted, holding his left arm in close to his body. "I brought everything for the binding ritual, though I don't know if I have the strength to complete it alone." His left leg stuck out at and awkward angle, bent to the side just below his knee. "Figures I'd have to die just to get a glimpse at you again." He laughed despite the pain. "Must be what I get for loving the Queen of Ghosts."
She bent down with great effort. "You aren't dead yet Sam." She tapped her staff on the floor, a pulse of soft light glowing from the stone at the top of the staff. The light lifted Oak to his feet, forcing his left leg back into a proper position. He groaned as his shoulder popped back into place and felt his broken ribs fuse back together. She stood back up, panting from exhaustion.
Oak wobbled on his feet, steadying himself on the wall. He tested his leg experimentally, stretching it and seemingly satisfied with Agatha's work. "Agatha, we must leave," he said hurriedly. "Lance will be here in a few minutes. We don't have much time." He held out his arm to her, hoping that his old lover would take his arm.
"No," she said. She smirked, the thin smile revealing a row of rotting teeth that dared to fall out at a moments notice. "I am far too old to run. The Spiritomb has drained my body of its strength." She looked up at the top of the staircase as a crack of light appeared through the pile of debris. "You were right about one thing though," Agatha said, a modicum of strength filling her voice. "We are out of time."
Another crack of light appeared, followed by a deafening roar that ripped through the formerly hidden chamber. "The vaults are open," spat Agatha. "The board is set." She lifted an arm, the wall beside her disintegrating as she did so. A thin hallway led down and away from the chamber, obscured by pitch darkness. "My time has come, Samuel." She smiled at him, life returning to her sunken and wrinkled face for a moment. "Until we meet again?" she asked hopefully.
Oak took her hand in his own and kissed the thin ring that sat on a bony finger. "Until we are together for eternity," He replied in a sad tone. He looked down the hidden passage, then back at Agatha. "I love y-"
Agatha interrupted him, pressing her ancient form into his. For a moment, the world grew silent. She pressed a stone into his hand and looked at him with half-blind eyes. "No more, Sam." She pulled back as the barricade of debris crumbled under the assault of a dragon. The light faded from the rock she handed him and she slumped onto her staff a little heavier. She pushed Oak into the passage and sealed it behind him, the bricks piling back into place behind him. Oak tripped and slammed into the ground, feeling the ground shake violently.
The temperature dropped suddenly, screams of spectral wind audible through even the brick wall. "BEGONE TAMER!" Agatha's voice shrieked, answered by the thundering roar of Lance's dragonite. "You will fall, foul beast!" she shrieked as the keep rumbled with supernatural energy. The earth-shattering roar of Lance's dragonite shook the whole keep, nearly drowned out by the screaming of the ghostly energies howling through the keep.
Oak leapt to his feet, dashing down the passage and away from the unearthly forces that raged against the attempted usurper. Oak felt the thunderous impact of something tearing apart the keep and redoubled his efforts even as the passage crumbled behind him. He burst from the passageway into an antechamber, a cloud of dust blasting out of the passage behind him.
Oak doubled over, coughing dust and panting heavily. He looked up at the chamber he had entered, scanning the surroundings. The room was the exact same as it had been the last time he was there. The ancient stone walls rose up into the darkness, the ceiling obscured by a thick layer of fog that seemed to undulate and crash against the walls like a wave against the sea wall.
The stone doors that had stubbornly remained shut during his previous visit hung open, a harsh white light streaming out of the open doorway. Oak stepped through the doorway warily, taking every step carefully as he watched for traps. "Dearest," he started. He pocketed the stone Agatha had handed him, looking warily through the ancient door. "We're finally here." He smiled to himself, lowering his guard as he entered the vault. The door slowly closed behind him, plunging the antechamber into darkness and resealing the vaults that had opened for Oak.
The unearthly winds tore through the antechamber, weakening and dying completely as their master faded from existence. The triumphant roar of a dragonite shook what remained of the keep, collapsing the ceiling of the hidden chamber and burying it under tons of ancient stone.
Alright! Please do share your thoughts with me! I feed off them, hoarding them for the bad days. Give me your theories as you come up with them! Ask me your questions! I want it all!