WATER WATER EVERYWHERE, AND ALL ARE ABOUT TO SINK!
(SORRY FOR TAKING FOREVER WITH THESE STORIES. JUST COULDN'T FIND THE TIME TO DO THEM, BUT HEY, BETTER LATE THEN NEVER, RIGHT?)
"YOU?" snarled Diaz as he leapt back, "But, how? I... I don't understand. What's going on? How did you…?"
Hydronix chuckled. "In chess, the King must be protected, so, I had my Queen and Rook take the hit, or should I say, doppelganger and Ozan!"
"You... you... Nara... Nara is... ?"
"I had one of my own Water Copies take my place in the Shadow Duel, in which, while you two were dueling, I was able to take your Queen while I lost mine".
"A clone? We defeated... a clone?"
"To retrieve a lost piece, a Pawn must be able to make it to the opposing side and release it! That's all I am saying!"
"Guess you were lying when you said you were impressed, huh?" said Jaden.
"You truly are a great duelist, but it won't help you in real life combat!" Hydronix snaps his fingers, causing a door to open nearby. "Now, are you going to get your Queen back, or call a forfeit! Time's ticking…" With that, Hydronix turned clear and splashed over the floor. Magnamon looked at the body, then to the door.
"What do you think we should do?" asked Bastion.
"Take him down," said Magnamon, "But to be truthful, I knew something was up. An Elemental Knight wouldn't go down so easily".
"What do you mean... something was up?" asked Whyte.
"Blastoise wasn't here. When we faced Pyramia, she had her Arcanine, Lucario, and Groudon with her, but Hydronix didn't have his Partner here at all".
Whyte stopped and thought about it. "Hmm... your right. And I'm guessing where we find Blastiose…"
"We find the original Hydronix".
They looked at the opened door, knowing that they have to go, to find Nara. The door revealed a flight of stairs leading down into spiraling darkness.
Atlantis Haven: Streets
Chazz panted as the last of the Guardians were turned to rubble, Kentaurusmon resting himself from the fight.
"That…was…crazy!" said Chazz, throwing himself back on the rubble, too tired for anything else. "I hope…that… was the… last…one!"
"Knock it off, Chazz," said Alexis, looking into the journals carefully. "Our monsters and Kentaurusmon did all the fighting".
"Yeah, so quit your yapping and up and at 'em Private!" said Hasselberry over Chazz's head.
"Don't talk to me like I'm in your troop, got it!" shouted Chazz, fuming.
"He recovers fast," said Kentaurusmon at Alexis.
"Tell me about it". Alexis kept looking, but couldn't make out what the journals said. "Ohh, I wish I could read what these have to say. Hopefully something about finishing those Knights… I mean, the Elemental Knights!"
"Perhaps we should join up with the others?" asked Kentaurusmon.
"I don't know. They have Magnamon and Jaden, so they should be fine. Its… Darkraptor that I'm worried about. We better check up on him". Alexis pushed the button on her wrist communicator. "Darkraptor, come in! This is Alexis Rhodes!"
Silence. Alexis tried again. "Darkraptor, do you read?" Only static answered. Alexis was getting worried that something might of happened to him while they were away, but…
"Darkraptor, here! Read you loud and clear!" the wrist replied.
"Oh, thank goodness," said Alexis, sighing in relief. "Darkraptor, are you okay?"
"I am, and so is the Skarmory Mach 2. We're ready to depart when you guys are ready".
"Alright. We'll head back then, over". Alexis ended her transmission and got up, taking the three books in her arms. "Alright. Let's head back. Hopefully the others would get back soon".
"Perhaps we should call the Sarge and tell him to rendezvous with us?" asked Hasselberry.
"Good idea. Whyte, come in. This is Alexis". They waited, but only static. "Whyte, come in, do you read?" Silence as they stood still, static only replying. "Whyte, come in!" Silence.
"I got a bad feeling about this," said Kentaurusmon as he looked at the temple.
Prophecy Chamber
"Whew!" said Jaden, opening a door from the stairs to a grand, white chamber. "It's either that was a lot of stairs, or I gotta stop eating all that junk food before bed".
As everyone entered, the chamber was large, with various statues and beautiful mosaics. In the middle was a marbled Ninetales and to the sides were statues of Legendary Pokemon: Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Raikou, Suicune, Entei, Regice, Registeel, and Regirock. Mosaics above every set of three had the imprints of Lugia, Ho-Oh, and Regigigas.
"What is this place?" asked Syrus, looking at the statues, especially ones that looked like they weren't Elemental Knights, but English Knights.
"Amazing," said Bastion, looking at various swords. "There's many things from long ago, even some that weren't discovered by scientists!" He looks at some various statues, one looking like a black fox. "Is this a Pokemon?"
Jaden, on the other hand, was looking at the marble statue of the Ninetales. "Is this... the main target of the Knights?"
"Correct, Mr Yuki!" replied a very familiar voice. The group turned as Hydronix stepped out from behind a statue of Kyogre, the Legendary Pokemon of Water. "Ever heard of the Rainbow Emerald?"
"Rainbow Emerald?"
"Perhaps a short history lesson before I send you to the afterlife," said Hydronix as he moves towards to the Ninetales statue. "Funny. This statue looked just like your father, Diaz".
Diaz growled as he glared at Hydronix. Hydronix smirked a little as he continued to walk around the area.
"Long ago, when the world was given the seven Emeralds of Miracles, the Guardian at the time wanted to find a way to harness all the Emeralds power without gathering the seven together. Taking a piece of each, the Guardian thus created that!" He points to the ceiling, where a Mosaic picture of the Rainbow Emerald shone. "The Rainbow Emerald, the Eighth Emerald. Its powers were magnificent for the Guardian, who had more power in that than all seven combined".
"However, the Rainbow Emerald was deemed as a threat to the entire world, seeing as it kept taking spiritual and life aura away from every living being around it. Soon after the previous Guardian who created the Emerald died, the next one was able to locate the high-ranking Legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Regigigas, to have them deal with the Rainbow Emerald. Sadly, it had too much power within to be destroyed, so they decided to seal it away.
"The Rainbow Emerald couldn't be stopped, not even by the Master Emerald. So, in order to seal it, the Legendaries needed a way to put it out of anyone's reach. That's where the white kitsune comes in. He used his abilities to create a null-void, where the Rainbow Emerald was to be sealed forever. In the process, nine keys were created and given to the Legendaries, but... in exchange, he lost his life".
"But, if he died, then-" began Bastion before Hydronix continued.
"Before his death, he left behind his mate, who was pregnant at the time. That turned out to be a mistake. The power to become the key will be passed down to generation to generation until it's ready; 800 years after the previous white Ninetales has passed away. The last one died 800 years ago to prevent us from obtaining it early, but he only delayed the inevitable. Each of these Legendaries possess one Key each, but when combined with the White Ninetales's body again, it will unlock the Master Key and release the Rainbow Emerald from its prison".
"The Master Key and the nine Side Keys?" asked Diaz.
"In a way, yes. The Master Key is passed on dormant until its 800 years after the last White Ninetales's death. That's why, after your father died, we left your mother alone in her... expecting form, I should say?"
"Ex...pecting? Mom was pregnant!"
"Smart boy. Yes, Suicune was expecting. Master Ultimate wanted her, but without the White Ninetales, we decided to let her stay as she is, so that the Master Key can be reincarnated in 800 years time. Now the time is up, and we have all but two Legendaries and the White Ninetales".
"Yet, you can't find them," said Diaz, smirking at him, but Hydronix only smirked back.
"Diaz, do you know where the nine keys and the white Ninetales should be on this planet to open the seal?"
"Um, I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you! I'd rather die than betray my family!"
"That could be easily arranged. Trident Beam!" Hydronix pointed and fired a blue beam from his trident, heading towards Diaz. Diaz flinched and braced for the attack, but the beam didn't hit him. He looked to see Magnamon in front of him, one of his arms frozen with ice.
"I see you won't hold back, even against a small Pokemon," said Magnamon, breaking the ice off.
Hydronix chuckled. "I guess this is as far as you'll all go then. Congratulations for finding Atlantis Haven, but it'll be all for naught…" He takes out a blue gem, which emitted a glow. "Chaos Emerald, lend me your strength!" With that, it flashed, causing everyone to shield their eyes. When the flash ceased, Hydronix was gone.
"W-w-where did he go?" asked Syrus, looking around as he stayed right behind Jaden.
"Maybe he melted?" said Jaden.
"I don't think that's possible," said Bastion.
Just then, the ground below them shook as it began to fall apart. Everyone began to move out of the way as the floor crumbled away, causing all the statues and items to fall down below, with Bastion mourning them.
"No! All that history!"
"We're going to become history if we don't watch our step!" shouted Whyte as he continued to move towards the end, narrowly avoiding a falling pillar. As the floor ceased to quake, dust filled the floorless room.
"Is everyone… *coughs* okay?" asked Whyte as the dust began to settle. He looked and saw everyone else alongside the walls, Magnamon just hovering over the floor. Whyte looked down and saw another room filled with broken statues, shattered glass and items, and water. "This could be bad…"
"YOU DON'T KNOW THE HALF OF IT!" roared a voice from below. They watched as a water appendage zoomed out and wrapped itself around Magnamon. The water began to rise as it materialized into a golem of water, the appendage arms freezing itself solid.
"Magna Blast!" Magnamon blasted away the water with his shining attack, causing steam to be released from it. He backed away as the water golem launched its icy fist at him.
"TIME FOR ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THE WRATH OF THE OCEAN!" The golem opened its mouth as it sprayed a tidal wave of water at them, causing the wall to break away behind them.
"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" shouted Magnamon to the others. "I'll take care of water boy!"
"ITS HYDRONIX, YOU GOLDEN DOLT!" With that, the golem slammed its ice fist on top of Magnamon, sending him down into the water below, where it began to swirl into a whirlpool. Magnamon began to fight it, but the current was stronger than he realized.
"This is bad!" said Whyte as he and the others got out through the broken wall. "The power of the Chaos Emerald is amplifying the Knight's own. He's almost invincible!"
"Is there anyway of beating him?" said Syrus, watching as Magnamon was launched out of the whirlpool by a water appendage. The others turned towards Bastion.
"What? Oh, I get it. Because I'm the smart one here doesn't mean I know everything!"
As the water golem reaches for Magnamon again, he dodged it and glowed.
"MAGNA BLAST!"
The water Golem shattered into a spray of water as the attack hit it, causing the entire area to be drenched. As Magnamon looked down, the water below erupted into water funnels, which began to encircle around Magnamon and enclosing slowly.
"You've fallen into my trap," said Magnamon.
"Trap?" boomed Hydronix's voice. "What trap?"
Magnamon quickly dove down into the water, where he saw Hydronix, waiting at the bottom.
"To come into my territory?" Hydronix asked, "That's either bravery… or foolishness". As he spoke, the water around them began to freeze over, encasing everything around them in ice. Hydronix moved through it as if it was made of gelatin, and went towards Magnamon. "You fought well, but you're to die here. Farewell, golden knight!"
As he spoke, Magnamon's entire body began to glow more brightly. Before Hydronix knew it, he got blinded by the light that was being emitted.
"MAGNA EXPLOSION!"
The entire room quaked as it engulfed it in a golden glow. As the glow passed, everyone were wiping their eyes as it re-adjusted to the dim room. Down below, they saw Magnamon and Hydronix, in a completely water-free room, Magnamon holding the Chaos Emerald.
"I…Impossible…" said Hydronix, having taking the full blast. He clutched his aching chest as he fell to his knees.
"You always told us never underestimate your enemy's power? It really bites that your own words turned against you, huh?"
"I guess not…" Hydronix fell to one knee, his body becoming weak. "But, a true chess master always leaves one play or two behind... BLASTOISE! RAPID SPIN!"
BOOM!
The wall behind Magnamon burst open, a spinning large shell headed towards him. Magnamon, taken by surprise, got hit by the attack, knocking him down as the Blastoise slowed his spinning down near Hydronix. Hydronix, coughing as he struggled to get up, looked at Blastoise.
"Is everything…" he coughs. "Done?"
"Yes, master," said Blastoise, trying to help his master up, but Hydronix refused. Instead, he placed his hand on Blastoise's back, causing the Insignia to vanish.
"Good…" Hydronix smiled weakly as his hand began to freeze over. "Then go… As for me… its checkmate for me…" Hydronix, his body now ice, fell back… and shattered. Blastoise wailed as a blue orb appeared out of Hydronix's robes and disappeared.
Jaden looked at the Blastoise. "What are those guys talking about?"
Before he knew it, everything began to shake. The walls and pillars began to fall as water erupted from the walls, beginning to flood the chamber… no, the entire temple.
"We got to get out of here and now!" shouted Magnamon as another water spout erupted above him, causing the water within the room to rise. Not being able to leave the Blastoise behind, Whyte took out the Snag Machine, activated a Snag Ball, and threw it at Blastoise, catching him.
"This is bad!" said Bastion as they were running through the halls and out the door. The entire area was beginning to flood, and the water was increasing fast. "At this rate, the city will be underwater before we can get to the Skarmory Mach 2!"
Just then, they hear a loud siren. Looking up, they see the Skarmory Mach 2 above them, Alexis looking out.
"You guys need a lift?" she asked
"Nah," smiled Jaden. "We can walk from here…"
"Jaden!" the others said.
"What? It was a joke!"
As they entered the airship, Darkraptor turned it around and headed back to the bay and its opening.
"We're alive!" said Syrus.
"Yeah, we are," said Jaden, holding Diaz. "How you holding out?"
Before Diaz could answer, the Skarmory Mach 2 made a sudden stop, causing Diaz to go from Jaden to Chazz's face.
"ACK!" said Chazz as Diaz hung on to him. "Get it off me! Get it off me!"
"Relax, Chazz," said Alexis, taking Diaz. "Its only a cute Pokemon… with long purple hair…"
"Thank you," said Diaz.
"And it talks!"
"Hate to break this to you but…" Darkraptor interrupted as he pointed out. The water caused a cave in, blocking the only way in or out of the city. "What do we do now?"
"Pray?" said Syrus as he looked out the window, the entire wall behind them broke through and a tsunami came at them, destroying everything in its path.
"Not good!" said Darkraptor. "The Skarmory's going to be crushed by a wave that big!"
Just when they were about to give up, the debris covering the entrance began to shift aside, the water calming down.
"Uh… what's going on?" said Darkraptor, seeing the debris settling down away.
"A miracle?" said Syrus.
"No, it was Nara! Look!" said Jaden, pointing to the side.
They saw outside the Piplup princess, who was concentrating on the other wall. Putting her flippers together, then apart, she caused an opening for them
"Go, now!" shouted Nara as she focused on the tsunami behind them.
"No, Nara! NO!" shouted Diaz, tears in his eyes. "I can't leave you!"
Nara smiled at the eevee. "Diaz, thank you for always being a good friend to me... Now, go and find your mother... stop Phileos... and be happy.…"
"You're staying behind? No! You can't!"
"I'm sorry, but Phileos's curse is still affecting me... I can't leave... I'm sorry... my friend... Leave now!"
With that, Nara ushers the water around the Skarmory, causing it to go through the opening and out of the city
"Good bye... Diaz... Phileos.…"
A tear rolls down Nara as she looked at the tsunami coming at her. Unable to see it, she closed her eyes as everything went dark…
Skarmory Mach 2
"I'm sorry, Diaz…" said Jaden, trying to comfort the little eevee.
"Nara…" He looks back as the entire underwater mountain crumbled, causing it to be taken away by the sea. He laid his head on the port window. "Phileos... Why…"
"Where do we go next?" asked Jaden.
Whyte looked at the Chaos Emerald retrieved from the Knight of Water, put it away in a satchel, then sighed. "No idea... We already took down two of the Knights, but there are others out there. Right now, my main priority is finding the white Ninetales and hopefully keep it away from them".
"And my mum!" said Diaz.
"Maybe we should look in the last place where this white Ninetales is located... if he was seen?" asked Alexis, hoping to be of some help.
"The only reports of a white Ninetales was about an ice cream truck incident," said Darkraptor. "It happened in San Francisco".
Whyte looked at him, then saw something on the co-pilot's seat: three old looking books. "What are these?"
"Found those when that creature of a goat tore down a building and chased Chazz around," said Alexis. "Looks like journals, but they're hard to read in their current hieroglyphs... one of them has the Insignia…"
"Should we head to the city? We gotta beat more knights before anymore harm happens," said Jaden.
"Very well," said Darkraptor, inputting data into the terminal. "Next stop, San Francisco, the City by the Bay!"
The Skarmory Mach 2 emerged from the water and blasted off into the air, its next destination being San Francisco.
TILL NEXT TIME...