Ash wasn't sure he done the right thing anymore, before they left the island Alec asked to speak to him and revealed what would happen once Ash and the others reached the temple. Although Alec had never steered him wrong he's worried that about Misty and her part in what's about to happen. Alec told Ash he had to let one of the men escape and allow him to call for reinforcements. Alec said that Ash needs to beat them once again to send a message to them that Ash is back and ready to fight whatever they send against him. Three loses in one day will make them reassess their plans which will give the resistance time to decide on a way to fight back now that everyone is back at the island. Ash would rather of done it stealth like, but he does have to admit if it give the resistance time to create a fight back plan it's worth it.
When the guy bolted from the first room in the temples Ash made out that he chased after him, but he followed him to the exit and then watched as he moved towards the area they had left the first two members of Team Infinta before moving back to the others.
Ash had been sure he was doing the right thing right up to the moment he stepped into the final room and Lucida spoke to him and he told her what about to happen and she said she's not sure that the events are going to go down like that and that it's more likely to end with the death of Misty if not Ash as well. The only part Lucida thought was good was that Ash is at least going to listen to the advice she gave him about having more allies than just people in the resistance. She trust Ash knows what he's doing so she's alright with him going ahead with his plan.
"They've gone", Misty cried as they reached the room where they left the tied up members of Team Infinta. Misty looked at Ash, but he turned away letting a small smile enter his face quickly before getting rid of it as the rest of their group looked at him. Events are progressing as they should, Alec's vision is coming true they are going to escape the region okay.
"Misty don't worry everything is going to be okay, right when we get to the top of the steps all hell is going to break loose. The guy that got away freed all his comrades once we moved further into the temple and then called for reinforcements which includes one of the Immortals Tempest", Ash interrupted.
"How do you know that?", Misty asked.
"Alec told me that he's seen what's about to happen. After we got back to the island and was given a room he had a quick nap and he had a sort of dream of our visit to the temple. Everyone everything goes fine, Brock you lead everyone expect Misty and me away from the temple. Me and Misty will stay together and give you time to get away by battling Tempest and the members of Team Infinta", Ash answered.
"Ash are you sure?", Brock asked.
"Yeah Alec's never steered me wrong, he told me where to find Misty's cure and helped me to get everyone away from the tournament without any problems don't worry everything will be okay. Let me and Misty head out first and then once we've got their attention move as fast as you can head for the pick up point and we'll catch up I promise", Ash answered and Brock nodded.
"Ash be careful", Brock said and Ash nodded.
"You to Brock, right Misty are you ready?" Ash replied and both Brock and Misty nodded at him. Ash moved out the room with Misty hand in hand with him. They moved up the stairs slowly their free hands moving towards their pokeballs ready to release their pokemon when needed.
Misty and Ash reached the top of the steps and found themselves facing thirty members of Team Infinta and hovering above them is Tempest looking exactly like Alan described him. Ash can see the control band positioned round Tempest's neck from where he is standing in the entrance to the temple. "Did you really think it would be easy to come here collect the items from the last room and then head off again", a man wearing a headset just like Bellatrix wore to command Lucida. This guy must be the guy in charge if he's got the headset that controls Tempest.
"Well yeah actually I do, you see I know what's going to happen and here's a little spoiler for you I win today", Ash replied summoning a large ball of aura throwing it half way towards the members of Team Infinta. The ball exploded causing a large amount of sand to fly up blocking the entrance of the temple from view. "Brock up you come", Ash shouted down into the temple and a few seconds later Brock and the others burst out.
"Ash good luck", Brock cried as he ran past Ash and Ash nodded turning back to the members of Team Infinta just as the sand cleared.
"You lot get after them, capture them and bring them back here they've got bounties on each of their heads the boss will reward us greatly", the guy in charge shouted and ten of the members of Team Infinta nodded running off towards where Brock and the others were making their escape.
"Ash are you sure they'll be okay?" Misty asked and Ash nodded at her.
"Yeah don't worry their escape is easily than ours. Alright everyone out you come", Ash replied sliding his free had over his belt pressing each pokeball with one finger till all of his pokemon were in front of him. Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder landing with the other pokemon.
"Oh I don't think, there's still twenty of us and only two of you and even better on our side we have an Immortal you think you can beat him?" the man who Ash believes the leader.
"Can I just ask you name a moment? I need to know who's butt I'm about to whip" Ash asked.
"Um sure, I guess it'll be nice for you to know the name of the man who beats you. I'm Vadia."
"Wait I know that name, you were one of the men that tried to stop Gary and the others back in Kanto, but they beat you and got away", Misty replied and Ash could see the mention of that failure annoyed Vadia.
"They got lucky, but you won't get so lucky this time I've got an Immortal on my side", Vadia replied.
"And that will just make this failure sting even more later", Ash replied.
"Well see Tempest show them your power", Vadia shouted into his headset and Tempest started to form an attack.
"Everyone except Squirtle scatter, Squirtle get below him and use rapid spin", Ash ordered and Squirtle nodded pulling all his body parts into his shell before hitting the ground spinning. The rest of Ash pokemon jumped in different directions as Tempest fired off his attack. Ash pulled Misty back slightly forming a shield of aura as well to block the shockwave from the attack. The shield held as the shockwave from the hit continued. Ash let the shield fall as soon as the attack finished ready to fight back with some offensive aura manipulations.
A large sandstorm started to form around Squirtle and Ash pulled Misty back another few step as it started to grow bigger and bigger forcing a few of the members of Team Infinta to step back as well. The sandstorm continued to expend till it reached Tempest pulling him in, "Alright everyone Squirtle needs some assistance, Charizard use Flamethrower on the sandstorm", Ash shouted and Charizard nodded at his firing off his attack. Ash watched as Charizard's flamethrower mixed with the sandstorm hardening a group of sand particles which crashed into Tempest which caused him to let out a small roar of pain and annoyance. "Pidgeot use whirlwind to add some more sand and power to the sandstorm", Ash added and Pidgeot nodded flapping his wings as hard as he can sending more sand and wind into the pull of Squirtle's attack and Ash has to admit it does seem to be strengthen it. Ash knows it isn't enough to hold Tempest for to long Alan explained the power of the Immortals to everyone at the meeting before the Immortal were awoken, but Alec said it holds him for long enough if Ash continues to fire different attacks and balls of aura into it.
"You really think that's enough to defeat Tempest some silly tricks using the desert around us he's an Immortal he can't be beaten by weaklings like your pokemon. There's two of you and twenty of us and we've all got pokemon ready to fight", Vadia shouted from his position on the other side of the sandstorm. Ash could see Vadia was holding one of his hands in front of his eyes to block the stray sand coming off Squirtle's attack. Ash smiled the googles him and Misty are wearing right now are giving them a small advantage.
Vadia and the members of Team Infinta called out their pokemon from their pokeballs forming a ring around them blocking out most of the sand being thrown from Squirtles sandstorm. "Ash shall I call out everyone I've got as well?" Misty asked and Ash nodded at her. Misty's Starmie and Staryu appeared in front of her along with Ash's Buizel, Corphish and Krookodile.
"Well let's get down to business then, you may have more pokemon than we do, but I've got a few tricks up my sleeves as well let me show you. Pidgeot stop using whirlwind", Ash shouted back and Pidgeot nodded landing back on the ground again as Ash summoned small orbs of aura firing them into the Squirtle's sandstorm just above Squirtle's position one after the other till he sent in over twenty watching as they twirled round the sandstorm till they reached the top crashing into Tempest one after the other causing more cries of pain and annoyance.
"That was pretty good, but how long can your Squirtle keep up the rapid spin that is creating the sandstorm?, it must be getting tired by now", Vadia admitted.
"He's one of my best pokemon and he'll keep it up as long as I need him to.." Ash started as he continued to fire more balls of aura into the sandstorm to keep Tempest from fighting back against them until Ash is ready to face him properly.
"And he's going to be doing it on his own, Starmie and Staryu get as close as you can to Squirtles sandstorm and then use rapid spin as well, form your own sandstorms help to keep Tempest occupied", Misty interrupted and her two pokemon moved towards Squirtle hitting the floor once they couldn't get any closer spinning their own sandstorms. Ash watched as they grew bigger and bigger till they were as big as Squirtles, both of their sandstorms started to bend as Squirtle's sandstorm started to pull them into it's spin. Their tops merged into the middle of Squirtles and Ash smiled as he realised the power of all three we now crashing into Tempest at one point keeping him from moving or using any of his attacks.
"Well it seems we've got Tempest subdued for now, let's focus on all these pokemon you believe will beat us and allow you to capture us. Lucario you're up first use Aura Arrows to thin the group", Ash said letting out a small laugh as he fired another set of balls of aura into the sandstorm helping to keep Tempest contained.
"Ash once Lucario's thinned the group I'll use the three pokemon you've lent me to knock out the rest while you focus on keeping Tempest subdued", Misty suggested and Ash nodded, Alec had said that this is how things are supposed to go so who's Ash to argue if it means everyone gets away safely and they get to annoy Team Infinta by beating them once again. Lucario fired off his attack and the ball of aura flew into the sky stopping above all of Team Infinta's pokemon exploding causing arrows of aura to rain down upon all of them. Some of the pokemon managed to dive under ground to avoid them and some teleported out of the range of them, but most of them were hit continuously till they dropped to the ground out cold.
"Well that has made it slightly fairer, right Misty you finish off the rest of them and I'll focus on taking Tempest down with my pokemon, ask your Starmie and Staryu to end their rapid spins the sandstorm trick has run it's course, now it's time to get down to business", Ash said and Misty nodded.
"Staryu, Starmie end your rapid spins", Misty called and both her pokemon obeyed as Ash watched the sandstorm weaken and both pokemon appear from within their sandstorms moving over to Misty.
"Squirtle you too buddy you did great", Ash called and the final sandstorm subsided and very tired Squirtle appeared. Ash could see his pokemon was fighting for breath and his body was shaking with fatigue Squirtle was hunched over his hands nearly touching the ground by his feet.. "Squirtle are you okay to continue? or do you want to return to your pokeball?" Ash asked his pokemon who gave him a nod for the Ash's first question and a shake of the head for the second questions. Ash watched as Squirtle took a deep breath before standing up tall letting out a large battle cry before he started to glow and his form was enveloped in light. Just as Alec said he would Squirtle is evolving. The glow continued for another few seconds before it dimmed and Wartortle appeared where his prior form once stood.
"So he's evolved big deal he's still not strong enough to beat Tempest", Vadia shouted letting out a large laugh and Ash turned to look at him letting out a small laugh of his own.
"Well see never get to confident the higher you are the further you have to fall", Ash replied turning his attention to his newly evolved Wartortle. "You've evolved into Wartortle that's great lets show them some of your new power in a minute", Ash added and Wartortle nodded.
"Oh it's easy to say that, lets see if you can back up those words with action, Tempest hit them with hyper beam", Vadia replied speaking the last part into his headset.
"Everyone get close", Ash called and Misty and all their pokemon moved over to Ash. Ash grabbed hold of Lucario's paw sending a message to him. "Lucario I'm going to need your help to block this attack." Lucario nodded and Ash felt some of Lucario's power flow into him and Ash summoned a dome shield around them just before the attack hit. The shield started to crack, but Ash and Lucario sent a bit more power into it filling in the area of the cracks repairing it till it was whole again stronger than before.
"Ash you're aura is getting stronger, the last time I saw you fight an Immortal it was one sided", Misty whispered and Ash nodded looking up at Tempest continuing to fire his hyper beam at the shield, Ash could Vadia and the other members of Team Infinta were smiling believing they have the upper hand. If Alec is right they aren't winning, Brock and the others should have knocked out all the members that were sent after them and should now be continuing their way to the meeting point.
"Misty, me and Lucario have been working hard so it won't be one sided anymore. Misty once the attack ends I'll get Vadia and Tempest to follow me away from here while you take out the rest of the pokemon belonging to the members of Team Infinta. Misty once you've taken them all out go and meet up with the others I'll catch up I promise. Misty don't stick around I don't want you to be in anymore danger than you have to be", Ash replied keeping his voice down so Vadia can't hear what he's saying.
"Ash I don't want to leave you alone, but I know you've get everything covered so I will go", Misty replied and Ash smiled leaning forward kissing Misty on the lips while keeping the shield up as Tempest's attacked ended. "Love you Ash", Misty whispered back.
"Love you to Misty", Ash countered and Misty gave Ash a small smile. "Everyone I'm going to drop the shield, Buizel, Corphish and Krookodile look after Misty", Ash continued and his three pokemon nodded at him. Ash turned his six pokemon, "Okay we need to lure Tempest and Vadia away from here so I'm going to call everyone except Pikachu and Charizard back for now once we're far enough away we'll land and start our fight back", Ash explained keeping his voice as quiet as he can.
They all nodded at him as he released the shield calling them back to their pokeballs. Ash jumped onto Charizard's back and Pikachu jumped onto as Charizard took to the sky. "Vadia come and get me if you think you're strong enough, Pikachu hit Tempest with Thunderbolt", Ash shouted and Pikachu fired off a powerful thunderbolt not damaging Tempest very much, but annoying him greatly. "Charizard go he looks angry", Ash shouted and Charizard started to move off at top speed.
Ash turned round watching as Tempest landed allowing Vadia to climb onto his back before taking to the sky coming after Ash.
Tempest's speed meant that within a minute he had caught up with Ash and Charizard, but Ash was sure he put enough distance between them and Misty so it didn't really matter. "Charizard lets land we've gone far enough", Ash shouted to his pokemon who nodded diving out of the sky narrowly avoiding an attack Tempest had fired. Charizard landed to the ground with a crash and Ash jumped off calling out all his pokemon.
"Wartortle use Hydro Pump, Sceptile and Charizard you help out by using Bullet Seed and flamethrower. Pikachu jump onto Pidgeot's back and then Pidgeot take to the sky", Ash said to all his pokemon who nodded doing as he asked taking to the sky and firing off attacks from their positions on the ground into the sky towards Tempest.
"Pidgeot fly as close as you can to Tempest so Pikachu can fire off thunderbolts, show him your power buddy", Ash added and Pidgeot soared past and Pikachu fired off an attack which Tempest rolled to avoid and Ash could see Vadia was fighting to stay on Tempest's back. "Lucario we're up, lets show him what our lessons have been all about", Ash added taking Lucario's paw into his summoning his aura sending it up into the air closing his fist as it circled Vadia lifting him off Tempest. Ash and Lucario pulled him down away from Tempest and towards the ground releasing him a metre above the ground letting him crash down.
Ash heard one of Vadia's legs break on impact and he did feel bad about doing it, but it needs to be done it's the only way no one will be sent after Ash and the others. There's just one more thing that needs to be done if Ash and the others are going to have a easy escape, Ash must break the connection between Vadia and Tempest.
"We really underestimated you it seems, you've broken my leg we never thought you had it in you to harm anyone. I thought we were different, but maybe we're not", Vadia shouted clutching his leg while also trying to drag himself away from Ash.
"I never wanted this to happen I never wanted to hurt anyone, you guys started this war and you forced me to hurt you just now. Vadia whatever happens now is on the shoulders of you and everyone else that belongs to Team Infinta", Ash replied summoning a ball in both hands flinging them up into the air both narrowly missing Tempest.
"Mr Ketchum we are only trying to show everyone a better world, join us and you'll see that for yourself", Vadia countered as he continued to drag himself away from Ash.
"You know Edward tried the same tactics with me, but like with him I'm not interested. Team Infinta is evil and I'll never join them, my destiny is to wake Lucida and end this war and that's what I'll do", Ash replied.
"Well don't say I didn't give you a chance to join us, the end has come Tempest take them all out use Wind Shears", Vadia shouted continuing to drag himself away from Ash a bit more.
Tempest's wings started to glow and blasts of wind exploded out from him. Pidgeot and Charizard rolled to avoid the ones aimed at them, but Pikachu wasn't ready he fell away from Pidgeot crashing to the ground seriously injured. Sceptile and Wartortle were both knocked out cold by Tempests attack and thrown off their feet flying thirty metres backwards landing either side of Pikachu. Lucario fired off aura spheres to intercept the blasts of wind heading towards him while making his way to Pikachu's location. Ash rushed over to his pokemon taking Lucario's paw in his hand sending a powerful blast of aura into the air crashing into Tempest stopping his attack and knocking him a few metres to the left.
"We can beat him today Ash, there's only me, you, Charizard and Pidgeot left we've got to retreat", Lucario's voice boomed inside Ash's head.
"Lucario not yet, I know we can't beat him with them knocked out, but they might not be knocked out for long and we can still win today trust me help is coming...", Ash stopped looking to the distance letting a large smile enter his face "Look here it comes", Ash finished pointing to the distance as three pokemon zoomed towards them.
The help Ash called from inside the temple has arrived and Ash recognises all three of them two from experience Latios and Latias though he's not sure if they're the same ones as he met in the past and one from a picture he was shown on one of his travels around the regions Rayquaza. All three of them fired off attacks at Tempest and they all hit knocking him a few metres closer to the ground. "Charizard and Pidgeot come down here", Ash called and both of his pokemon glided down to him landing either side of him.
Rayquaza continued to fire off attacks from long range as Latios and Latias dived towards Ash stopping above him and his pokemon. Both eon pokemon started to emit a energy pulse from their body which surrounded Ash and his pokemon healing all of their injuries and reviving both Sceptile and Wartortle. Both Eon pokemon let out happy cries before starting to chat away to Ash, but he couldn't understand what they were trying to say.
Ash could see Lucario was smiling at whatever they were saying so it must be good. "Lucario what are they saying?" Ash asked.
"Ash they say that they heard you call and came straight away, Ash they know of you and how you are a champion of the pokemon. Ash they want you to know that they're here for you to command as is Rayquaza your enemy is their enemy", Lucario answered.
"That's great lets get down to business, everyone throw everything you've got at Tempest. While you're doing that I've got to get that headset from Vadia", Ash said and everyone nodded. Charizard and Pidgeot took to the sky gliding off with the eon twins into the sky while Lucario, Pikachu, Sceptile and Wartortle fired attacks from the floor at Tempest. Rayquaza's attacks were keeping Tempest's attention completely so he didn't have time to dodge all the attacks the eon twins and Ash pokemon fired at it.
Ash smiled rushing off towards the area where he last seen Vadia following the trail of blood till he found him.
"I see you've managed to call on some help from the legendary pokemon, it still isn't enough though Tempest can't be beaten by you",
"Vadia you've got something I want and I think I'm just going to take it now no more back and forth banter. You can't beat me, but if I control Tempest I can beat you though", Ash explained leaning down grabbing the headset of Vadia's head placing it on his instead. "Tempest come to me", Ash said into the headset turning back towards the way in had come watching as Tempest appeared closely followed by all of Ash's pokemon and the three legendary pokemon. "Tempest land", Ash continued and Tempest landed to the left of Vadia.
"The boy's taken the headset you must take control from your location, destroy the headset and bring us back to the Grandis region this battle will have to continue another day tell our forces to retreat to the home base back in Mauville City", Vadia said from behind Ash and Ash spun round just as Vadia ended the call. Ash felt the headset buzz and he ripped it off chucking it to the floor just as it exploded. Tempest grabbed hold of Vadia in his talons taking to the sky taking off at high speed not bothering to look back while Vadia screamed in agony in his claws.
Everything went as Alec said they would, Ash got the stone and staff pieces from the temple and he managed to get Vadia to retreat back to the Grandis region. Now as long as things went like they should of done with the others Ash should find everyone waiting for him at the meeting point.
"Ash Rayquaza is asking are we going after them?" Lucario's asked inside Ash's head.
Ash turned to look at the three legendary pokemon hovering above him, "No we're not going after them. Latios, Latias and Rayquaza thank you for coming to my aid even if the battle was short, but it was worth it. You kept Tempest occupied long enough for me to be able to get the headset without Vadia having the chance to call for help from Tempest, I needed them to head back to the Grandis region by the time they send someone new here me and my friends will be long gone that was all this was about", Ash explained.
All three legendary pokemon said something one after the other and Lucario nodded at each of them, "Ash they said that today's battle might of been short, but they agree it was worth it. Ash they also want you to know they'll come to your aid again when ever you need them to. Latios and Latias also want to know if you need a lift back to the others?" Lucario explained.
"Thank you all three of you I'll keep that in mind. Latios, Latias you've done enough, but thank you for the offer I'll ride Charizard back to my friends. Right I better get back to my friends they'll start to worry soon off you go see you again in the future", Ash replied and all three legendary pokemon turned heading off together into the horizon.
Ash turned to his pokemon giving them all big smiles, "You all did a great job time to return to your pokeballs, once we get back to the island I'll get Professor Oak to give you something special as a treat for all your hard work today both here and at the tournament." All of his pokemon nodded at him and he pressed all his pokeballs watching as everyone except Pikachu and Charizard were sucked into their pokeballs. Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder before Ash climbed onto Charizard's neck clinging on tightly as he took off from the ground gliding off back towards the temple entrance ready to find Misty and join up with the others.