Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.


Chapter 8: Black and White

Another day, another attack. I don't know how long more we can hold out. Unlike Dialga's forces, we can't replenish our numbers daily. We're running out of supplies and tricks to use against them, and everyone knows it. Team Fortune even suggested putting Blast Seeds and rock fragments into long, hollow branches and setting them off to break the siege, but Blast Seeds don't take a day to grow.

Morale's rock bottom. Everyone here knows that we're all going to meet Giratina. Question is, when? It doesn't matter how our lives end, but when does the borrowed time we're all living on run out? Today, tomorrow, one week later, or perhaps two?

Even as the Aura Pokemon continued to flip through the pages, it was becoming increasingly obvious to her that the battle for the ruined town above her was won through attrition. She closed her eyes, mouthing a silent prayer for all the fallen defenders of Treasure Town, even though she knew no one was probably listening to her.

"I don't like this place." Galive complained, glancing around with a hint of unease in his voice. "It's like we're being watched…"

"It's probably just you. Now shut up and let the lady read in peace." Avis snapped the book shut and glared at Spectre, who simply shrugged.

"What? You are a girl, ri-"

The Sharp Claw Pokemon rolled aside as an Aura Sphere struck the ground where he was standing a moment ago, throwing up a cloud of soil.

"Stop fighting already, lovebirds." The Farfetch'd muttered, before a Blizzard attack froze the ground to his left and another Aura Sphere missed his right wing by inches. Avis mentally swore, before returning her attention to the diary. However, an odd sensation in the Aura caused her to toss the book to Spectre and invoke her natural Aura powers.

This is weird. The Aura's never acted like this before. The Fighting/Steel-Type Pokemon thought to herself, even as her senses moved outward. And… Oh, no.

"We've got to move." She snapped, deactivating her powers. I can't believe I didn't sense them before…

"What? Why?" Spectre questioned, before Avis snatched the book out of his hands.

"We've been spotted, that's why! They're coming from above. And don't bother asking how they found us here, because I don't know!"

"If that's the case, then the only way to go would be deeper." Galive gripped his stick tighter. "Unless anyone's got a better plan that doesn't require us to get badly maimed or lose a limb or two?"

Avis and Spectre glanced at each other, before shaking their heads.

"Well, let's get moving." The Wild Duck Pokemon gestured with his stick towards the interior of the Guild.

"You guys go ahead."

Two pairs of eyes turned to look at Spectre. The Sharp Claw Pokemon had picked up some pebbles that were on the ground and was busy using them to hide something diamond-shaped.

"What are you doing? If they catch up to you, you'll probably die."

"I didn't know you cared, Avis. And I'm not that stupid to wait for death to get me. I'm just making the necessary preparations needed to welcome them."

The Lucario and the Farfetch'd shot each other uneasy glances, not wanting to leave him behind but also not willing to expose themselves to any unnecessary danger.


Cranial's POV

"So, has the scout made psychic contact with us yet?"

"Only just. He's still out in the field, but he relayed the info you needed back."

I shot a glance to the Scizor named after his color, signaling that he continue talking.

"They're in the town, just as I said they'd be." It was easy to detect the pride in his voice. Jeez, it was only a small achievement…

"What now?" The Pincer Pokemon asked.

"I'm sure you already know the answer to that question, Kurenai."

The Scizor shrugged, clicking his pincers as he shifted his gaze to the site that had the honor of being Lord Dialga's greatest triumph to date. "I have my assumptions."

I tossed my second bone club, which I had picked up on the way to Treasure Town, into the air and caught it. It wasn't as balanced as my previous one, but it would have to do. Once this was over, I could go back to my graveyard and look for the perfect bone club…

"Time to move out."

At least I wouldn't have to worry about any idiotic buffoons getting lost as all the Pokemon here had taken part in the attack on this ruined town. But, they're still expendable, as all Pokemon are…


Avis' POV

"Don't run and read, Avis. Especially in conditions like these."

"Shut up! Stop telling me what to do!" I snapped, my patience deteriorating almost as quickly as I was running. The last thing I needed right now was an annoying Pokemon who was extremely vulnerable to my Aura Sphere ordering me about.

As I approached an entrance to another passageway, I slammed into something invisible and lost my balance, crashing into the ground in a rather undignified heap. Shaking my head, my vision cleared and the dark corridors once again came into view, as well as the Kecleon that struggled to re-camouflage itself.

So that's how they found us.

"You're not getting out of my sight!" Before it could fully conceal itself, I punched it in the jaw before grabbing it by the neck and tossing it into the nearest wall.

"Don't stop moving! I'll catch up!" I shouted as both Galive and Spectre ran past me. Strangely, they didn't bother to ask any questions.

A movement out of the corner of my eye got my attention. Acting on instinct, I dodged the Color Change Pokemon's Psybeam attack by leaping backwards into the new passageway.

"Show's over." I held out my hand palm-out, summoning an Aura Sphere before tossing it into the roof of the cavern, burying the Kecleon underneath tons of soil and earth and blocking off the passageway.

"You did realize that you could have brought down the entire cave on us as well, did you?"

I didn't respond. In the heat of the moment, I had forgotten that the tunnels were all interlinked, but fortunately nothing else had collapsed. Yet.

"We'd better find a way out of here fast. Looks like the confined spaces are driving the wielder of the Aura crazy."

"I have an idea." My long-time companion spoke before I could snap at Spectre.

"Whenever you said that, it usually involves some near-suicidal requirements."

Galive turned to face me. "You know me so well."


Kurenai's POV

"Are you sure they're down there?"

"Absolutely. That's where I'd be."

"Not where I'd be." The Marowak looked unconvinced as he peered down the hole. "It's too enclosed down there, the perfect place for a trap or an ambush."

"Well, it's also the place where the probability of finding some information on Dialga is the highest."

"Lord Dialga." Crainal reminded as he jumped into the hole. I sighed, following suit.

"It doesn't really matter, does it?" I said, landing beside him. "Something doesn't feel right…"

"It's probably just you." The Bone Keeper Pokemon replied. Up ahead, a Magmar was busy surveying the area. My attention was drawn to a suspicious pile of stones slightly in front of it, but it was only when I noticed a glint of yellow underneath the grey stones did I realize what it was.

"Get down!" I shoved the Marowak to the ground even as the ill-fated Magmar stepped on the stones.

The explosion that followed nearly caused me to go deaf.