The shades behind their masks
Wow, this truly took me an eternity. I used several hours daily to write, but I've never been satisfied with a certain dialog. So if you don't like the final version, I can publish the twenty other scenarios as well. Sigh...
The final battle will begin now, and I'll let you vote: Do you want me to separate it into two more parts or would you prefer it if I wrote a final chapter with extra length?
Please share your praise, criticism and ideas in the review section, I'd always like to know what people like and dislike about my work!
I don't own the characters, places or Pokemon itself, and I have no intentions to earn money with this story in any way!
Chapter 11: vs. Hydreigon – Mission for Unova
Hugh led them, just as Lack-Two expected, towards the eastern entrance of the Giant Chasm. Two massive grunts blocked the way. „Okay, that's the place. But how are we going to bypass those guards?", Hugh asked.
Lack-Two already started to invent a plan to attack, but suddenly, Bronius appeared behind them. „The schedule has started. Come to the center, we don't need guards anymore.", he asserted.
The grunts obeyed. „There's our ticket for the great show.", Looker cheered.
The trio prowled through the cave until they reached the entrance to the crater. In the middle of it, the frigate floated slightly above the ground. The soil around was thinly frozen. The place was filled with fighters of Neo Team Plasma, but none of them noticed the agents yet. They were concentrated on Zinzolin and Bronius, who faced each other inside of a big crowd that encouraged both of them equally.
„You are a traitor, just like Rood. We gave you the chance to spread your ideals across the world, but you decided to join those who stand in the way of advance.", Zinzolin accused the sage opposite to him.
But the addressed shook his head. „You still fall for Ghetsis' lies. We propagated nothing but tyranny. If you intent to battle for his selfish aims, we will take you down.", the spy announced. He sent his Amoongus forward to make it fight Zinzolin's Cryogonal.
In this chaos, Lack-Two managed to lead his companions through the woods at the side of the area. His goal was another gateway to the den. Sadly, Colress was not as inattentive as his henchmen. He stood on the deck of his ship and looked in the woods. As he spotted what he was looking for, he held a megaphone to his mouth to make sure he'd get all necessary attention. „Superintendent Lack-Two and detective Lou Karr, you've earned my respect for coming this far. Ghetsis wished to face you personally, so there is no need for hiding."
The young agent looked at the scientist warily. „He doesn't know you're here. See if you can make it to that cave.", Lack-Two whispered to Hugh and pointed to the second trace. Then, he stepped forward. Looker followed slowly.
„Would you lead Lou Karr to the venue?", Colress asked the nearest grunts in the moment Cryogonal's Ice Beam finished Amoongus off. „Lack-Two, I'd like to invite you to a cup of tea before you enter this battle."
„That's definitely a trap!", the older detective warned.
Lack-Two contradicted. „It's more likely that they lead you into a trap than that he tries to trick me. I think I understand him now."
He walked towards the gangway and climbed the stairs. „You thought that before, and it ended bad.", his subordinate shouted behind him, but the two grunts escorting him away didn't let him more time to argue.
„This way, please.", Colress said as his guest made it to the deck.
Looker's new companions weren't that cordial. They dragged him towards the entrance of the northern part of the cave, where they built up their main factory. The detective looked around suspiciously. He guessed this factory was responsible for the nocturnal noises the people of Lacunosa Town feared according to his researches. But one thing made no sense to him. „Why do you show me this?", he finally asked.
They reached a slope. A few levels deeper, a melting pot was placed. „Because we're sick of you getting in our way.", one of the guards said. Suddenly, the two of them tried to push him over the railing. He fought back, but was outnumbered and urged backwards. Just as he was about to fall into hot lava, a great dragon caught him and dropped him at the ground again.
Its owner ran towards the agent. „It seems like this was a trap all along.", he yelled. „Let's just blow the entire place up. They'll pay for this!"
Colress leaded his guest down a long corridor towards a big chamber. At the walls, a lot of desks full of notes and logs could be found. In the middle of the room, the scientist had prepared a table with two cups of tea and a chessboard. He sat down and gestured him to do the same. „I've waited to talk to you in person quite long. May you join me in a game of chess?", he asked.
„Weren't we playing the entire time?", Lack-Two questioned while taking his seat, smiling in anticipation as well.
His counterpart returned his facial expression. „That's an interesting way to put it. I think I'll enjoy this." He moved the first pawn. „How did you find our hideout?"
„You chose a quite clever position, but there are a few clues you didn't care for. The first is that the resigning grunts like the one hiding your blueprints moved to the places that were as far away from here as possible. The second is that you chose Opelucid City as your first target. Of course this was because you wanted to prove your superiority by overwhelming one of Unova's biggest cities, but decided not to waste energy and be satisfied with the closest town of economical importance. After my assistant collected information about this environment, I figured this could be the only place suitable for your hideout.", the boy explicated.
As he ended his recitation, he took his opponents left rook out of the game. The figures moved on.
The Dark Scientist nodded. „A very clever conclusion... So I guess you got the blueprints. Why do you try to sneak in then, since you could just break through all our defenses?"
„I now know you planned all this. As soon as you found out about the girl keeping the data, you revised the construction of your device. But it would be no fun if it was easy, would it?", the detective said.
„We are similar in so many ways, Lack-Two. Why are we enemies?", Colress questioned while capturing his opponents second bishop. The figures moved on.
The young man had to think about how to express his answer. „I believe that we have different opinions about sacrifices. Small disagreements like this can be of great importance. That's applying to small things in general." With these words, he guided his pawn to the field where his queen was surrendered. The figures moved on.
„We both underestimated each other, that's for sure. But now that we are here as equals, the better perspective shall succeed.", the leader of Team Plasma suggested.
Lack-Two pondered for a moment. „What is your fillip to try releasing the 'true potential' of Pokemon so badly?", he wanted to know.
„Well, despite the natural wish to treat the Pokemon as they deserve it, which relies on who evaluates it, I'm urged on by the thought of how much good could be done with an unbeatable warrior.", he reasoned his actions. The man moved his remaining Tower to imperil his foe's King, so that only his queen could save him with a sacrifice. The figures moved on.
The agent was surprised by this statement. „Ghetsis will use the power you create to conquer the territories of innocent and helpless people. How can that be good?"
Colress' smile returned. „There are wars raging around the world, greater and with more losses than our skirmish. When I manage to make Kyurem invincible, we can end these battles. We can avert the death of countless humans and Pokemon. Wouldn't that be good?"
„So you don't support Ghetsis, am I right?", Lack-Two detected.
„I despise his biased worldview and his selfish plans.", the scientist admitted.
The superintendent folded his hands, waiting for the next move of his opponent. „One more thing we have in common. If you loathe him, too, why are you working for him?"
„Maybe you're too young to know it, but one day you'll learn that sometimes you have to team up with people you hate to achieve your goals. You can't always select your partners. Ghetsis is the only person that can provide me what I need, so I have to collaborate with him.", Colress explained.
As his counterpart kept quiet, he continued. „One day they'll remember me as a hero. They'll think of me as a man who had the courage to sacrifice what had to be sacrificed to save the world. What will they remember you as?"
The boy smiled weakly. „They'll remember me as the one who brought down an evil revolutionary that exploited good men for his mad projects by lying to them about a perfect world." He moved his knight and overturned the scientist's king. „Checkmate!"
The loser's smile dropped. He wasn't angry, frustrated or sad. He was compassionate. „I should lead you to him now. But take into consideration that if you enter this cave, you'll either win or die."
„I'm ready.", Lack-Two asserted confident.
When the boy entered the chamber, he saw a mess. Hugh and Looker decided to take initiative and fight Ghetsis alone. His classmate's Flygon, which had evolved in a battle against grunts who had tried to stop him, had already defeated Cofagrigus. Since Volcarona and Eelektross had been subdued before, only Seismitoad and Hydreigon were left.
The boy called out his Samurott and ordered to hit the ground type with a Hydro Canon. The attack struck it hard and knocked the foe out.
Everyone turned towards the incomer. „You seem so familiar. But that's impossible. I got rid of him.", the sage murmured. „Who are you, pest?"
„I am Interpol's superintendent Lack-Two. I'm here to avenge my cousin and save Unova."
„Your cousin?" A murderous smirk formed on Ghetsis' face. „That's why you remind me of him. But I won't let history repeat itself. At the end of this day, the tides will finally change. Hydreigon, use Dragon Pulse."
Flygon flew up in the last moment, but as it evaded the beam, it hit Looker's Croagunk instead, almost defeating it. „Flygon, strike it with Dragon Claw.", Hugh ordered. His Pokemon tried to come close to the adversary, but the latter attacked with another ray and forced it to retreat.
„Now attack it with Ice Beam.", Lack-Two instructed Samurott. Since the energy of its opponent's assault came out of its right arm, it wanted to aim its left side, but the dark type started another onslaught with its left hand to redirect the ice attack.
The detective looked at his subordinate, and he understood. „Croagunk, use Vacuum Wave.", he ordered. With immense speed, it ran towards Hydreigon, withstood the fire that shot out of his mouth and beat it with the super effective attack. Now that its defense was broken, Flygon and Samurott were able to hit it hard as well, and the power of the combined raids made it lose its consciousness.
„What? I lost already? Well, then I guess it is time for Kyurem to deal with you.", Ghetsis announced. He stepped aside and showed them the frozen ground the legendary dragon stood on. It took a combative pose.
The invaders imitated the action, but before one could attack, a soft yet monotonous voice echoed through the room. „Stop this madness at once!"
The sage looked towards the right entrance. „I figured you'd show up here.", he said contemptuous. A man with green hair flew in on a gigantic black dragon.
„I spent the last years traveling around the world, but when I heard what you're doing, I had to return. Unova is the place where I discovered the true beauty of the relationship of humans and Pokemon. I can't let you ruin it!", N meant.
Lack-Two noticed that Ghetsis hid something beneath his cloak. He added two and two up and perceived the villain's plan. „N, get out of here! You don't understand what he's up to." But the former king didn't listen. On the contrary, he gestured his retinue to come in as well. The detective was concentrated on other things, so he overlooked Whi-Two's shocked face when she noticed him.
The leader of Team Plasma drew the attention back towards himself. „I don't know how to feel.", he stated. „On the one hand, I'm angered by your betrayal. On the other hand, I'm proud to see the teachings in manners I gave you to prepare you for being a king weren't completely wasted. But feelings are for the weak. They are for those I'll soon crush under my feet. Anyway, I'm ready to forgive you for this renewed rebellion, since you were charitable enough to bring Zekrom back to me. With the combined power of its Bolt Strikes and Kyurem's Glaciate, nobody will stand in our way."
He pulled the DNA Splicers out from beneath his wrap. The item and the ice type began to glow simultaneously, and the latter gained its powers.
„Don't let it touch Zekrom!", Lack-Two advised.
But N still wouldn't listen to him. „It hurts me to order an attack on an innocent Pokemon, but this has to be. Zekrom, use Outrage.", he called. His companion stormed towards the foe. It didn't dodge the onslaught, neither fought it back. The agent hit his flat hand against his forehead. He knew this wouldn't end good. He was right.
As the dragons touched, a bright light pervaded the cave and stopped the former grunts from cheering for their lord. Only Lack-Two and Looker had the necessary gear to see in this illumination, so they were the only ones able to see the spectacular fusion of the two monsters that once had been one, and were about to be it again.
As the light got weaker again and the others regained their ability to see, they were terrified. Standing in the middle of the cave was a more than three meters tall beast that looked like an upright standing Kyurem with black body parts and electrified tail.
„Yes, it actually worked!", Colress cheered. „This is the Black Kyurem, the high point of my research, the strongest Pokemon in the world. What you see is fully used potential. What you see is perfection."
„You're detestable!", Looker growled.
N watched the monster in horror. „Zekrom... What happened to you?"
„Your beloved Zekrom is gone.", Ghetsis affirmed. „The only thing left is Kyurem, and it is not more than a tool to my will. Let's show them. Kyurem, knock them down with Freeze Shock." What followed was an explosion.