Two days have passed since Byakushiki left Mt. Chimney and the NAA has been hard at work ever since. Training of new troops were intensified to try and increase the number of available troops for the battle and the top officers worked for 15 hours straight coming up with a battle plan sure to succeed. At the moment, Light is preparing for his flight to Fortree City to face Mach.
"I am off to face our most brazen foe yet." Light began, eager to fire up the troops one last time before leaving. "When I return, it will be in a blaze of glory knowing that the New Age Alliance has risen to new heights, doubling the amount of area conquered. Long live freedom. Long live the New Age Alliance!"
The onlooking crowd burst into a roar of cheers at Light's final statement. Everyone present was ready to jump into battle right then and there if it meant pleasing their charismatic leader. Before flying off, Light pulled Momo, Grunt and Nate of the side.
"Are all of the elements in place?" Light asked.
"Yes." Momo answered. "We just received a new batch of recruits from Fallarbor Town this morning. That should give us enough firepower to stand on equal ground with them."
"Nate, what about the AKs?" Light asked. "What intel have they been able to gather."
"From what we've seen, no reinforcements have entered the city since the Battle for Mt. Chimney." He replied. "If all goes according to plan, we should be able to take the city."
"Good, I wish you all the best of luck in your upcoming battle."
"Likewise to you Light." Momo answered "But are you sure you want to do this? It seems pretty risky to go in knowing there is a trap lying in wait."
"I am only doing what I have to for the good of the Alliance." Light responded. "Don't worry about me. I'll be able to break out of any trap they set for me. For now focus on your own battle."
"Yes sir! We will begin the attack at noon just as you planned."
"I have to be going now." Light said. "I wish you all luck and Godspeed."
With everything having been said and the plan in place to take Mauville, Light activated his magnet lift technique and flew off toward Fortree City.
"Do you think he stands a chance?" Nate asked.
"If anyone stands a chance, it's him." Momo declared
The following day on Fortree City
Standing at the city square, Light patiently waited for his opponent to arrive.
I played it safe and came 10 inutes early but I've been waiting for 15. Where is Mach? Light thought to himself
"Sorry I'm late." Someone called from above.
Light turned to see his opponent, Mach, jumping down from his perch above to the city square ready to fight.
"It's not polite to keep people waiting. Especially after warning me not to be late." Light said calmly.
"I was here early just like you. I just wanted to size you up in person before our match. I was expecting someone taller." Mach commented snidely.
"Just because you were expecting something more doesn't mean that I'm a foe to take lightly."
"Of course not. But to show you I'm a gracious host, you may make the first move whenever you are ready."
"You'll regret giving me any type of advantage once we're through. Night Slash!"
Light charged at Mach who jumped over Light's charge and counterattack end with a slew of Mach Punches. Light stopped these with a Thunderbolt attack but not before Mach was able to get a few solid hits in.
"Dark Pulse!" Light yelled eager to get in a hit against this willy opponent.
Rather than counterattacking with another beam attack like many of Light's previous opponents, Mach jumped above the Dark Pulse and into the foliage above them.
"I thought that after being called out, my opponent would at least be brave enough to face me man to man!" Light called out, trying to goad Mach into making a move into the open.
"And I thought you would be smart enough not to let your ego get the best of you. Haven't you ever heard of a thing called tactics?"
Seed Bombs then began to fly at Light from all different angles.
He's using his superior knowledge of the nearby forest to his advantage. I have to find a way to take that away. Light mused.
"I have heard of tactics but I also have this thing called honor!" Light yelled as he began to cut every tree branch in sight. "When someone challenges me to a fight, I see it as a test of strength rather than tactics."
"Sorry to break it to you. But while this is a one on one match," Mach said as he raced toward Light with a Drain Punch at the ready, "This is also war and all is fair in love and war!"
Mach the proceeded to hit Light with the Drain Punch square in the jaw sending him flying into the ground with enough force to create a crater.
Light recovered quickly and used another Thunderbolt attack before Mach could hit the ground.
"This is the beginning of the end Light!" Mach yelled. "Mega Drain!"
Instead of making contact for damage against Mach, the energy of the Thunderbolt was absorbed leaving Mach untouched.
"You see Light, just like your leuitenant, I too am a practitioner of Energy Manipulation." Mach declared.
"But I used a Thunderbolt on you earlier in the match, why didn't you use this technique then?" Light asked.
"You took me by surprise then." Mach retorted. "I didn't have enough time to launch the correct technique."
Mach then closed the distance between them with inhuman speed and began launching an array of Mach and Drain Punches that Light was defenseless against.
"Why can't I block any of these?!" Light cried out in frustration.
"It's because of my variant on the energy manipulation technique." Mach said, still pummeling Light with punches. "Instead of boosting the strength of my attacks with the energy I gain, I increase my own speed to the point where even the fastest of Pokemon moves like a snail in comparison."
I can't let my crusade end like this. I have to. Think of a way to stop him. Light thought
"Night Slash!"
"You think that will hit me Light?"
"Who said I was aiming for you?" Instead of contacting Mach, the Night Slash hit the ground and threw rocks between the combatants.
Dazed by this unexpected maneuver, Mach suspended his assault for a few seconds, giving Light the opportunity to use his Slash attack and put some distance between them.
"Nice trick." Mach said? "But don't think that it'll work twice."
"We'll just have to see." Light responded, knowing that that 'trick' was his only possible way of winning the fight.
"Time time to finish this. Sky Uppercut!" Mach yelled as he once again charged at Light at an insane speed.
"Night Slash!" Light yelled, trying to replicate what had happened just a few moments prior.
"What did I tell you about that trick?" Mach said condescendingly. "It won't work twice!"
Mach then briefly abandoned his Sky Uppercut to launch a flurry of Mach Punches breaking the rocks standing in his way.
He's still too fast. I couldn't even get an attack off. Light thought, dreading what was going to happen next.
"Sky Uppercut!"
Mach's attack hit a nearly defenseless Light and sent him flying upward along the length of a tree, the bark biting into him every inch of the way.
When he returned to the ground, Light was barely able to stand. He had nasty bruises covering the entire front of his body and the horrible scrape from the tree bark on his back. Anyone spectating could see who was going to win the fight.
"Time to finish you and the NAA in one final blow. Any last words?" Mach asked trying to give the illusion he was merciful.
"No-" Light began dejectedly.
"Hammer Arm!"
Out of nowhere. A Pangoro with a thin cloth covering his face jumped out of the forest and hit Mach squarely in the head, knocking him out cold.
"We need to get you out of here Light, you're not looking so good." The Pangoro said before picking up Light's battered body and diving back into the forest.
A few minutes later they both heard a yell from the battlefield."WHERE ARE YOU LIGHT!? YOU COWARD!"
Light fell unconscious a few seconds after hearing Mach's desperate yells, still unsure of who had saved him and why.
A Few Hours Later...
Light awoke in a cave directly adjacent to a small lake. His savior had his back to light and was deeper inside the cave eating some fish and bamboo.
"Who are you and why did you save me?" Light asked still groggy from being unconscious.
"When I heard that Light of the New Age Alliance was coming to Fortree to battle Mach, I was expecting a better show."
"You didn't answer my question. Who are you and why did you save me?"
"Come on Light don't you recognize the first person you defeated on your crusade against the major powers?"
Light though for a moment then asked hesitantly "Genma?"
"That's correct. Since my defeat in Fallarbor I've been camping out here."
"Why didn't you return to the Pokemon army?" Light asked
"A person of my abilities isn't meant to be a simple foot soldier." Genma said. "I am destined to be a leader of people."
"So basically your pride won't allow it." Light said flatly.
"None of my men would listen to me anymore.." Genma whimpered. "I came to Fortree to try and take the command from Mach, but he defeated me in no time flat."
"Oh yes because all of your techniques just ooze power." Light replied sarcastically.
"You can't say anything about my techniques anymore after I helped you successfully execute the Run Away technique." Genma retorted.
"Grr.. I guess you're right." Light admitted. "Mach was just too powerful. All of my best attacks were rendered useless against him. But back to my other question:Why did you save me?"
"When I heard that Light was going to be fighting Mach in Fortree City I Thought it was the best chance to get him out of power."
"So you were going to wait until the end of our fight and then take out the worn out victor taking the city for yourself." Light said flatly.
"You make it sound like such a dirty scheme."
"That's because it is!" Light yelled in one of the rare breaks of his cool.
"OK, I'll level with you. Whe I saw you out for the count and Mach no worse for wear I switched my plans from defeating the victor to helping you take down Mach and perhaps striking a deal to get back into power."
"Thanks for your honesty, I guess." Light replied. "I need to bide my time and think of a strategy to take down Mach. He was right, my ego was clouding my judgement and I rushed in without thinking."
"ATTENTION ALL YOU COWARDS HIDING OUT IN THE FOREST!" Mach's voice could be heard over a loudspeaker from the city. "LIGHT I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! YOU HAVE ONE DAY TO CONTINUE OUR FIGHT OUR I WILL CONSIDER IT A FORFEIT AND CLAIM MY PRIZE: FALLARBOR TOWN."
"No.." Light said under his breath.
"THAT'S RIGHT LIGHT, I SAW THROUGH YOUR PLAY. WHILE YOUR FORCES ARE TOO BUSY ATTACKING MAUVILLE, I'LL CLAIM FALLARBOR FOR MYSELF!"
"No!" Light cried out.
"YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED LIGHT. YOU HAVE TWENTY FOUR HOURS." Mach's message ended, leaving Light and Genma to just sit in silence, stunned at what they had just heard.
"They're going to attack our first base with all of our trainees in it. How could I have been so blind?" Light muttered under his breath.
"Darn it. Light's wound won't be anywhere near healed by tomorrow. There goes my chance at regaining my power." Genma muttered.
"I have to face Mach." Light declared struggling to feet.
"Twenty four hours is too little time." Genma said. "You'll be killed! You've hidden your identity this entire time. Why not run away instead? You could lie low for awhile and then restart your campaign."
"I can't turn back after I've come so far." Light declared with a hint of regret in his voice as he thought about the life as Shoteneko he had given up. "This is my life now, and I can't let down my comrades. You must know what I mean otherwise you would have returned to your life as well."
"My situation is different."Genma said. "If I return home now, my wife would literally kill me."
"Genma, do you still want to take down Mach, or are you too afraid?"
"Of course I want to defeat Mach, but I just don't see how we can."
"We have a lot of work to do over the next twenty four hours Genma. We need to come up with a battle plan and try to find a way so that I can't least stand without leaning on a cave wall."
"Whoah Whoah Whoah. What's in it for me if I help you?" Genma asked.
"If I am able to defeat Mach and am not killed in the process, I will give you command of Fortree City and the NAA forces to be stationed there. Do we have a deal?" Light asked extending his hand out to his former adversary.
Genma took his hand in a firm grip and said, "When do we start?"
AN: Aaand we're back with more Pokemon New Age. Genma has made his return to try and help Light defeat Mach and lighten the tone a bit. I thought it was time for Light to be knocked down a few pegs because, you know, it's boring if the hero wins every time. Next Chapter the epic conclusion.
Reader Input: I wanted your opinion on a couple of things.
1) Should I detail the Battle for Mauville? And
2) Would you be interested in future story detailing the background of a character? If so which one?
Thanks in advance for the feedback.