Pokemon: Redemption

Chapter IX: Raiding Rage

It had been a few months since the training session, making Datenshi a formidable trainer. He was surpassing Hikari in her skills of battle and matching at the level of N and Touko's battle.

Over the course of a month they had been raiding and hitting Team Plasma bases as they headed along the lower part of the region. They had conquered five bases, but Datenshi had been holding back, mostly letting Touko, N, and Hikari do most of the damage.

Rin had also gotten better about her temper, choosing to stay at N's side more than ever. The group had chosen a rather risky operation to take over a lab on Liberty Island. In that lab Datenshi could hold up to his promise that he had made to the group—reverting the Pokemon back to their true forms.

Rin had not been to excited about being a Pokemon again, as she was happy being a human. However, she could contest it on a later date. They rode together on the backs of Reshiram and Zekrom, arriving at the entrance where the sirens alerting Plasma was aware of their arrival.

"Alright," commanded Touko. "We charge in, ransack the place and make it out alive. Do what you can to destroy their equipment but make it salvageable for Datenshi's end of the bargain."

"Right," they chorused, calling out their first Pokemon and charging at the Plasma members. Pokemon were called out and the raid began. It took about an hour but they battled their way into the heart of the lab, making less and less work of the Plasma grunts.

Datenshi had been reluctant into using his dragon Pokemon. It scared him, that day, when he almost lost his mind with power and rage. Unfortunately, the warning sirens began to sound in the halls, calling for the defensive measures to be taken.

"Shit!" called Touko, calling back her Serperior.

The building began to crack as it was obvious that explosions were going off all around the lab. Touko commanded everyone to make a mad dash for an exit when the ceiling came crashing down.

The sudden commotion sent the trainers in opposite directions. The new wall seperated Hikari and Datenshi from Rin, Touko and N. Hikari ran over to the wall and called out for the others.

Rin answered back, her voice muffled behind the wall, "Hikari! We're OK over here. Get Datenshi-nii-chan out of there, and we'll meet you on the surface!"

"Right!" called back Hikari, and then reached into her bag to pull out her flashlight, seeing her Piplup clinging to Datenshi's leg in fright.

She called him back into his Pokeball to keep him from being a distraction. Datenshi laughed and thanked her, and they started picking their way through the rubble and found a staircase.

However, they had not noticed a Plasma member had been caught with them and was silently following them. He followed them as they tested the staircase and carefully climbed up the stairs, and into the next level.

After investigating that levels staircase, they found it too damaged to climb. Hikari plopped down on a stair and wrapped her arms about herself. Datenshi started running calculations in his head about how much longer they could last underground.

With them completely unaware of his presence, he took his chance and quietly called out his Krookodile and launched a surprise attack on Hikari. She shouted in surprise, falling to the ground as the Plasma grunt commanded his Pokemon to capture her in it jaws, applying pressure on her.

Datenshi whirled around on his feet and let out a grunt of surprise, but then saw Hikari's dangerous predicament. He tentatively touched Espeon's ball, but the grunt saw this motion and cackled evilly.

"Don't even thin about it, or I'll give the command and the girl's bones will crack like toothpicks in my Pokemon's jaw," he laughed.

Datenshi growled, feeling a small bubble of rage expanding within himself. The Krookodile seemed to grin as he flexed his jaws, sinking his teeth into Hikari's delicate skin. Blood began to pool from her wounds as the Pokemon threw her on the ground, making her cry out in pain.

The bubble of rage popped in Datenshi, causing him to pull out the ball containing his Ice legendary Dragon and releasing it. Laughing maniacally, he commanded Kyruem to use the Krookodile as target practice, who gladly obeyed.

Datenshi ran up to the grunt and pushed him to the ground, pushing his foot onto the grunt's ribcage, relishing in the several cracks he heard. The grunt coughed up blood, and began to beg for mercy as Datenshi applied more pressure.

"No, I won't grant you your wish. The cries of your pain make me feel so alive!" laughed Datenshi, his eyes reflecting his insanity.

Hikari looked up weakly, having been laying in a small pool of her own blood. She blinked a few times, her gaze fuzzy until she saw the somewhat clear picture of Datenshi and his dragon Pokemon making a torture session of the enemies.

"D-datenshi, no.." she coughed, struggling to her knees, then to her feet.

She was too late. With two defining cracks, the Plasma grunt and his Pokemon lay on the ground, their eyes open in lifeless terror. Datenshi laughed as he kicked their lifeless bodies, Kyruem also seemed to enjoy the torture, sending Ice Beams into the ceiling, clearly blasting a hole to the surface.

Hikari gathered enough strength to stand, staggering over to Datenshi and smacking him. Silence filled the air as Datenshi placed a hand to his cheek, feeling the stinging sensation.

Hikari looked at him, somewhat reveled and shocked at what he had done. He stepped back a few steps, looking down at the bodies he and his Pokemon had ravaged. Kyruem seemed to sense in the change in his master's state of mind, and began to kick up a wind in frustration.

Datenshi called him back, looking down, his hair hiding his face. He had nothing to say, and couldn't lift a finger. It was as if all his strength left him. Hikari shook her head at him, unsure whether or not to run to him and cry or run away from him.

"Hikari... I..." he began at last, but Hikari gathered enough strength to run to him and embrace him with what strength she had left.

"I thought I had lost you," she whispered into his chest, looking up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Ah...yeah. Me too," Datenshi replied, gently wrapping his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Hikari. I really am a monster. I didn't want you to see me like that..."

She shook her head, and placed a hand on the side of his face. "No. It's OK. I accept every part of you."

Those words hit him like a ton of bricks, his breath catching in is chest. Never had anyone ever said anything like that to him. He smiled sadly, holding her closer. Out of impulse, Hikari leaned up.

Datenshi seemed to follow just as impulsively, bringing their lips together in a gentle kiss.

'Thank you, Hikari,' he thought.