Chapter 14:
"Stop right there; that's enough!" were the words that caught the grandmasters attention as he slowly turned to face ash and Serena; "Ahh ash... Serena... so glad you two have come to join us..." the smooth confidence in the grandmasters voice was sickening to ash and Serena as they quickly demanded the grandmaster just "save it" a response that disappointed the grandmaster which was evident in his response. "what i am; i mean i would've preferred it if you met your demise on the dimensional plain but, then again i wouldn't get the pleasure of destroying you myself!" as if this revelation wasn't enough to make ash and Serena's blood boil the sight behind him definably was; behind the grandmaster was the horrifying sight of primus and Olympus crying in pain as the grandmasters machine continues to drain their life force away begging for ash and Serena to please save them as they cry out in pain it was truly a horrifying sight to the two trainers as they watched the guardians of energy and darkness' skins turn to the consistency of stone as they're lifeless bodies crash to the ground next to Dragonus's.
Ash and Serena were terrified at this site as they quickly demanded to know what the grandmaster had done to them to which the grandmaster responded with a laugh before informing Ash and Serena that they were about to find out. That's when the grandmaster ordered his servant to fire their machine at him like he had done before and once the red beam that was fired at him dissipates. he grandmaster finally answered ash and Serena's question; "all three of their powers are now mine!" a revelation that put both ash and Serena in as state of disbelief as the grandmaster continued on again; "their souls powers and energy are mine; these guardian dragons here, are just mere shells of their formers selves" as he pointed at the motionless almost fossilized bodies of the three dragons. With that revelation out in the open the grandmaster decided that he needed to make ash and Serena believers. as he raises his arm pointing it at the two trainers proclaiming; "primal energy burst!" at those words a bluish whit energy beam shot out from the palm and straight towards ash and Serena who were astonished that they were staring down primus' special attack but this time coming from a human. Fearful of what was about to happen ash instinctively grabbed Serena as they called out for mirror wall dragon that in short order descended from the sky to protect his dear friends. now mirror wall dragons appearance should have caused anybody to quake with fear but not the grandmaster in fact to the contrary as he proclaims with a laugh; "and now watch... as your precious dragon... the guardian of dimensions power... becomes mine..."
again another revelation that caused ash and Serena confusion as they swiftly asked the maniacal madman in front of them what he meant but rather than respond with words the grandmaster stretches out his arm pointing it at mirror wall dragon and using Dragonus' power begins to take mirror wall dragons power away; as soon as the blue colored beam hit the guardian of dimensions skin he began crying out in pain. The sight of their friend in so much pain brought tears to ash and Serena's faces a mirror wall dragon pleads with ash and Serena to save him. A request both ash and Serena where quick to respond to and comply with as ash called out Greninja and, Pikachu. while Serena called out Braixen before commanding their pokemon to attack the grandmaster with the hope that being attacked would get him to stop his attack and save mirror wall dragon but alias the attacks didn't achieve their goal as mirror wall dragon cried out one more time; "ash... Serena... I'm sorry... i can't take any more of this he's going to stupefy me..." ash and Serena couldn't believe what they just heard as they try to encourage the dimension guardian not to give up till it's over a motto both ash and Serena have lived by since they were little kids and a philosophy both ash and Serena believed in with all their hearts but this time it wasn't enough for mirror wall dragon as he cries out one more time; "it's too late... I'm sorry for failing you..." as his stupefied body falls from the sky and crashes to the Alolan soil with an impact so hard it forced his fossilized body to crack.
a sight that caused celebration from the grandmaster while ash and Serena slowly and remorseful made their way over to their friend with tears rolling down their faces as they whisper to the fossilized remains of mirror wall dragon; "mirror wall dragon we're so sorry... don't worry we'll save you and the others..." but their moment was soon interrupted by the grandmaster; "don't make me laugh..." a response which infuriated ash and Serena as the grandmaster gives them one more piece of advice; "oh and if i were you I'd stop grieving for him after all, you'll soon perish alongside your precious dragon!
of course ash & Serena weren't about to take the advice from the maniacal mad man standing in front of them rather the young couple gave him a defiant response; "not going to happen!" Ash stated in the most confident tone he could muster followed by Serena who assured the grandmaster; "we'll stop you and, we'll save mirror wall dragon and the others!" the naïve nature of ash and Serena was rather amusing to the grandmaster as he started laughing as he began taunting ash and Serena; "now that I'd like to see so come and get me!" it was soon evident to Serena ash was provoked by this as he angrily calls phoenix dragon to come down.
The presence of the sun guardian pleased the grandmaster as he was thrilled to see that phoenix dragon would be next but before he could start having fun. Serena pulled ash closer to her curious as to why Serena did this he turned to face her and he could see the genuine look of concern on her face as she began to speak to him with a slight trembling in her voice; "wait ash... we can't be too reckless... remember he can now syphon the titan's powers away for himself and if the grandmaster gets all of the guardian titans power he'll be unstoppable but, he can't do that to our normal pokemon" ash picking up on what Serena meant especially as he watched her call out all of her pokemon of Sylveon, Braixen and, Pancham! Seeing this he realized Serena was onto something so ash called out his pokemon too; Pikachu, Greninja, Sceptile and, Lycanroc. sadly ash wasn't the only one who caught on the grandmaster did too as he begins thinking to himself; "interesting they're trying to build a wall between me and phoenix dragon..." but what the grandmaster and even ash weren't aware of was that Serena wasn't done as she calls down for the sky guardian Osiris to join the battle as well. While ash was impressed at how much Serena was thinking this through the grandmaster was just amused as he informs ash and Serena that he knew what they were trying to do and sadly it wasn't going to work. the grandmasters words had a mixed reaction from the young couple while Serena was a little concerned, ash was confident that it was just a bluff ash's confidence did ease the performers concerns as they ordered their pokemon to attack the grandmaster.
But as ash and Serena's pokemon go on the attack the grandmaster laughed as he yelled out; "absorb reflection" and at those words a bright band wave of light came shooting out from his arm. The sight of this was horrifying to ash and Serena as they realized that he had mirror wall dragons power and that they had just sent their precious partners into a battle they couldn't win as their barrage of attacks is fired right back at them! ash was not just irritated he was worried he couldn't he wouldn't let anything happen to his one true love as he turned to Serena and yelled for her to get down but, noticing Serena was paralyzed with fear he jumped on Serena forcing her to the ground trying to keep her from getting hit. what ash and Serena didn't see however was all their partners getting mowed down leaving phoenix dragon and Osiris as the last ones standing as the grandmaster proudly proclaimed; "and now that nothing stands in my way; Osiris... phoenix dragon...you're mine!" As ash and Serena continued to lie face down on the ground groaning momentarily disoriented from what had just happened.
After what seemed like forever ash and Serena managed to pick themselves up from the Alolan soil only to be greeted by the horrifying scene of seeing all their pokemon "mowed down" which immediately drew ash and Serena's concern as they got up and ran to their pokemon who were lying on the ground battered, bruised and, groaning in pain. as the two trainers continue to check on their precious partners ash and Serena find themselves interrupted by the grandmaster and his dialogue; "don't grieve for them, after all you'll all be wiped out soon enough!" after the grandmaster after finishing his threat to ash and Serena makes good on it by using Dragonus' signature attack fire-blast; to finish ash, Serena and, their pokemon off! It was at this moment realization kicked in for both ash and Serena they had lost control of this battle and they were in way over their heads. the only thing they could do now was hope that a miracle could save them all and that miracle came in the form of a familiar female voice which rang out throughout these ancient dimensional ruins; "alright Solgaleo now!" it was then at his trainers command the legendary pokemon of Alola Solgaleo appears and counters the grandmaster's attack saving ash and Serena. Seeing the Alolan sun legendary was a relief to both of ash and Serena as they thanked Solgaleo and expressed to him how happy they were to see him. ash then realized something if Solgaleo was here that voice could've only been Lillie... speaking of the new Alola champion it was right about then Lillie came into view of ash and Serena as she continued to run through the center of the ruins. This interference infuriated the grandmaster as he yells to the Alola champion; why you meddling...
Do not interfere..." the anger spewing from the grandmaster was amusing to Lillie as she defiantly tells the grandmaster; "that's enough grandmaster you best remember you're in my region now and we do things differently here!" after those words were spoken from Alola's champion the atmosphere in the ruins changed it grew more tense so much so it felt like you could cut the tension in the air with a knife as the grandmaster launches mirror wall dragons signature attack "absorb reflection" at Lillie scaring ash and Serena as they plead with her to get out of the way but what ash and Serena didn't know was Lillie had a plan she had backup on the way and that is why the Alolan champion was still standing firm but in the back of her head she couldn't help but wonder where her backup was what was taking her so long. As the absorb reflection attack headed towards Lillie and Solgaleo another familiar voice rang out across the ruins;
"Squishy dragon pulse now!" after hearing it's trainers command a dragon pulse comes flying from behind Lillie disrupting the grandmaster's absorb reflection and stopping it causing more smoke to build briefly and once the smoke cleared out everyone was greeted by Zygarde and his trainer the new Kalos region champion Bonnie. seeing not just Lillie but now bonnie was a big relief to ash and Serena however; it was the exact opposite to the grandmaster as he angrily mutters out; "oh come on; now I've got not one but two regional champions, the Alola region champion!" as he looked on to Lillie and Solgaleo before shifting his gaze to bonnie and Zygarde before muttering again; and the Kalos region champion, standing in the way between me and my quarry!? As his gaze finally moves to Osiris and phoenix dragon who were standing behind their trainers ash and Serena.
While the grandmaster continued rambling on Lillie and Bonnie's attention turns to ash and Serena as they ask their friends if they were okay. To which ash and Serena assured the two champions that they were fine thanks to them. Relieved but still focusing on the matter at hand Lillie turns her attention to the robed figure standing across from them demanding to know what was going on here. As ash and Serena begin to explain; "that's the grandmaster of Tempalizin, he's capturing the guardian dragons and, taking their powers away and giving them to himself! This revelation was shocking to both Lillie and bonnie as they comment that they thought that was insane. Which again angered the grandmaster as he inquires to the Alola champion; "oh I'm insane am i?!"
before angrily launching another fire blast at all of them forcing Bonnies hand as she commands squishy to use dragon pulse to counter the grandmaster as their attacks fly across the sky and collide with each other over the ruins canceling one another out. as the grandmaster looks on at the pokemon that just stopped him as he began talking to himself; "well Zygarde from what i read you're a legendary but, my power is divine and as a result far greater!" before launching yet another absorb reflection attack at Zygarde concerning bonnie because now she's too late to order Zygarde to counter. Seeing this and knowing Bonnies concern ash and Serena decided to return the favor saving her and Zygarde like they had saved them. Ash quickly commands Osiris to launch a lightning blast while Serena commands phoenix dragon to use its blaze cannon to protect Zygarde. The attacks from the sky guardian and the sun guardian managed to overpower the grandmaster protecting squishy much to Bonnie's relief as she thanks her friends for saving squishy. a thank you ash and Serena both responded to before turning back to the grandmaster as ash calls out to everyone; "let's finish this right now!" a statement that Serena bonnie and Lillie quickly agreed with as they grandmaster laughed telling them; "as you wish!"
As the battle against the grandmaster begins in Alola back in ash and Serena's adopted home of domino a "visitor" has arrived it was none other than the princess of Tempalizin who had just fallen out of Contemillia's portal. After several minutes Katie picked herself up of the ground and gazed on at the city in front of her. It was then Katie realized what had happened to her as she decides to head into domino to look for someone who can help her.
Meanwhile back with ash, Serena, Lillie and Bonnie:
the smoke surrounding the dimensional shrine ruins begun to clear out revealing the grandmaster who continued to stand in the same spot he had before being attacked by Zygarde, Solgaleo, Osiris and, phoenix dragon; much to the surprise of everyone. Seeing that their attacks didn't even leave a scratch on the grandmaster which began to make bonnie nervous as she turns to ash and Serena to ask them; "how do we win against him?" ash and Serena could see the doubt coming from the new Kalos champion as they assured their old friend that they could win by "not giving up till it's over." the famous phrase both ash and Serena used all through their journey together and it was this phrase that raised Bonnie's confidence as they prepared themselves to attack again. while ash and Serena where playing the role of motivator the grandmaster continued to mock them all but, while the grandmaster continued this the gears in ash's head where beginning to turn as he came up with an idea that just might finish this battle off. in order for his plan to succeed though ash needed help from his most trusted human partner and best friend Serena; "I've got an idea; Serena you got my back right?" ash whispered to the performer who quickly responded; "you know i do ash always have always will!" Serena's response convinced ash that his plan can and will work as he asked bonnie and Lillie to please use Solgaleo and Zygarde to clear a path! A request Lillie and bonnie where quick to respond to as they ordered Zygarde and Solgaleo to attack with dragon pulse and solar beam.
the power coming from these legendary attacks could be felt as the earth began to tremble underneath everyone's feet and once the attacks hit the grandmaster who had foolishly let his ego get the better of him smoke began to build once again thicker than the last time and now with the stage set ash and Serena took a couple seconds to thank Lillie and bonnie before commanding the guardians of the sun and sky to unleash their power on the grandmaster to end this madness! With ash and Serena confident that the grandmasters reign of terror was over the young couple began to sigh in relief but Lillie and bonnie weren't entirely convinced that was the case as they question whether it really did work. it took several minutes for the smoke to clear out and reveal what really happened and when the smoke did dissipate it revealed an unbelievable sight the grandmaster was still standing seemingly un-phased. ash and Serena didn't know what to make of what just happened as they question the grandmaster on how he managed to survive that blast! to the grandmaster ash and Serena sounded so naive as he finally admits how he's been able to survive what would've ordinarily destroyed a million armies; "it's so simple i can't believe you haven't figured it out yet, i possess Dragonus' power making all your attacks completely useless!" it wasn't until this revelation was made that everything began to make sense he was invincible but realization came at a cost!
While Ash and Serena where trying to digest what they had just been told the grandmaster raised his arm and pointed it at Osiris and phoenix dragon as a red beam came shooting from his arm and when that beam made contact with the skins of the divine dragons they begun screeching in pain and apologizing to their masters ash and Serena for failing them. the grandmaster was draining them now; realizing this ash and Serena pleaded with the sky and sun guardians to get out of the way but it was too late after a few seconds their blue and yellow skins turned to a fossil tan color as the remains of the sun and sky guardians fell to earth, causing the ground to shake as they did so! This was more than Serena could bear as the grief stricken performer buried her head in ash's shoulder and began to cry before muttering it would take a miracle to save them now! As those words escaped Serena's mouth a strong and deep... No divine voice echoed across the sky; "that is enough!" not sure of what to make of the voice and unaware of where it came from the Kalos champion began to scan the sky where she noticed some kind of portal opening which she immediately directed ash and Serena's attention to and as their eyes gazed on the sky a legendary pokemon... no the pokemon god himself Arceus appeared dashing across the sky surrounded by a dazzling gold gleam as he did so. Nobody knew what to make of Arceus' appearance but it was Serena who managed to ask the question; "ash what's going on!?" Serena's question and the uncertainty of what would happen next had consumed ash now as he grabs Serena's waist pulling her closer to him as he finally responds; "i don't know Serena... I don't know!"