Chapter 25 – Honour among enemies.

Nimbasa's Gym had already been seized by Team Plasma, with its leader the beautiful Fashion Model Elesa already within the clutches of the grunts clad in Knight's dress. But despite her predicament, the stylish electrifying woman remained calm with her expression contently smug. The lowly criminals began to wonder about her rather relaxed physic, baffled by her confidence within the face of danger.

"Give it up already, Gym Leader!" the lead grunt said. "We have this entire building covered. There is nothing you can do against us!"

"Oh, do not worry, my dear criminal scum…" Elesa replied with a devilish smirk. "It is not me you have to worry about…"

"Huh…?"

"I suggest you look up. Right now."

All the grunts looked up. There they spotted a giant yellow bird suddenly swoop down with a terrifying screech. Zapdos, within her Pokémon form sparking with violent electric volts charged down towards them. She was so fast that the petrified grunts had no time to leap out of the way. She landed with force strong enough to literally blast them flying through the air.

Her onslaught didn't stop there. After her 'electrifying' arrival, she continued to attack the already startled grunts with a series of Thunderbolts. They showered down all over the gym, with most of her single bolts successfully hitting a scurrying grunt with a heavy jolt. Zapdos continued her rampage until every one of the grunts fled in fear, with not one of those medieval-costumed weirdos left in site. Team Plasma's invasion of the gym was over as quickly as it began.

With her mission accomplished, Zapdos reverted back to her radical girl-punk human form and praised herself at a job well done. "Yeah! Ain't I great or what?! Told you I could handle it on my own…"

"Still, we need to remain vigilant," Elesa said. "They now realise what they are up against and may return with a better strategy. It's still too early to call it a victory."

"They probably won't give up until their organisation is completely destroyed and have nothing to fight for," Jupiter replied, as she and Mars approached from their cover around the corner. "This is basically their last stand. All we can do is remain here until we receive word from Victini, that he and the others have completely finished off their base."

"Is that what that call was about earlier…?" Not long before Team Plasma ambushed the gym, Jupiter received a call from Victini updating everyone on his position and of N's kidnapping. He told them that he and a few others were about the infiltrate Team Plasma's main fortress to save N, and then destroy the place off for good. It should be a move that should finish Team Plasma off once and for all.

Jupiter nodded "Until then, it'll be best to remain here and defend the gym from another assumable attack. As I said this is their last stand; if they're completely devoted to their cause, then they won't give up until they succeed."

Zapdos scoffed. "Let them come as many times as they want; I'll just keep defeating them! It's that basic!"

"Still… if you keep exhausting energy like that Zappy, then you won't have any juice left to zap anybody with," Mars pointed out with a teasing smirk. "Don't jump in by yourself next time; we're here to also fight with you – Elesa too. You got that?"

The electric goddess sighed. "Fine!"

Bianca and Professor Juniper raced down a long underground corridor on their way to assist Lenora against the Plasma grunts that had just invaded her gym. They were within the lower wing of the museum's library researching, when they received the Director's distress call to hurry and help her fight them off. They were almost there, until something unexpected happened leaving the girls at a frightened gasp halting their rescue dead in its tracks.

Cobalion had blocked their path. He had leaped down from a ceiling beam landing in between the girls separating them, with Juniper behind him and Bianca in front. He stared upon the young trainer with a glare that lust for battle. This was something neither Bianca nor Juniper expected, but then again they should not have been so surprised; after all… Cobalion was on the enemy's side.

"You will go no further," he said down that the frightfully confused Bianca. "The scientist may proceed, but if you want to pass through here then you must defeat me."

"Cobalion… why?"

"Silence girl! Just fight me!"

Bianca had no idea what Cobalion was thinking. Aside from their first encounter this was the first time he had ever acted volatile towards her. She only knew one thing for certain: there certainly was no way she could pass until he was taken care of. Cobalion was serious and Lenora needed help now! So with a compliant nod, Bianca accepted his challenge.

"Professor, go on ahead! I'll be there shortly."

"Alright Bianca, but you be careful!" With that, Juniper continued down the corridor as Bianca prepared for the battle of her life.

"It's time has come to prove your Iron Will to me! Show me what kind of a Pokémon Trainer you are!"

"I'm gonna give it my all!" Bianca replied to her Cobalt Ninja adversary. She pulled out her first Poké ball. "There will be no holding back! Stoutland, you're up first!"

Cobalion changed from his human form into his legendary beast shape. From there the battle began. Juniper could hear the sounds of their battle fading into the distance while she continued to race to Lenora's aid.

With each step her heart quickened with anxiety; now with Bianca occupied with Cobalion their defence became that much weaker. Naturally Bianca was the strongest since she was the Pokémon Trainer, but Juniper on the other hand was only a scientist. She was uncertain of how much help she could be to Lenora if any at all, since battling Pokémon was obviously not her strongest attribute…

"Damn! This is gonna be tough! We're gonna need a miracle to get through this!"

"You rang…?"

Juniper paused to stop and look behind her to where that unfamiliar voice came from. There she spotted a young, smirking, albino looking man dressed in a black robe wearing a large chunky ruby necklace sculpted like a monster's lower jaw. Beside him was a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair dressed in a frilly goddess' gown the shades of purple and pink. Her inviting pink eyes where indeed beautiful as was her smile. It was as if Juniper was gazing upon a dream – a thought that couldn't be any closer to the truth. The young man was actually Darkrai, and his female partner beside him was Cresselia.

Juniper could not believe what she was seeing. "Are you… are you Legendary Beings?"

"Indeed we are," Darkrai proudly replied. "I am Darkai the Lord of Nightmares. And beside me is my beautiful counterpart Cresselia, the beautiful and eloquent Lady of Dreams. We have been sent by Arceus to assist you in your desperate time of need."

"Well, Arceus sure knows his timing doesn't he… don't I feel blessed!" The professor laughed. "But… why me?"

"It is to our understanding that your team in this fight against Team Plasma is the only one without Legendary Pokémon. That comes off as a major disadvantage don't you think…? So, we came to you to even the score. I assume you want to get this over with, yes? And to be honest… we just want a piece of the action as well."

"Use us as how you see fit," Cresselia added. "We are at your service."

"Alrighty then! Let's go out and kick some butt!"

Team Plasma was no trouble for Kamon, who defended the Mistralton Pokémon Gym along with Marina, Celebi, Entei and Skyla the city's gym leader. In duo cells, Kamon and Marina quickly defeated the criminal grunts in tag battles. Thanks to them and their powerful Legendary Pokémon, over half of Team Plasma's force was already defeated. Some of the defeated fled in shame, while others just wallowed in their defeat on the floor until local officials arrived.

Then there was Skyla who was proving she was a force to be reckoned with, quickly defeating the grunts in Pokémon battles by herself. It was no wonder why she was a Gym Leader… and at such a young age as well. Along with the gym's trainers who train under her, this place was more than overly protected. Team Plasma had no chance here!

"C'mon, who's next?!" Kamon was ready and willing for more, with his blood pumped-filled with adrenalin by all his victories. "Who else is stupid to think they can take on a World Elite Four and his crystal beauty just as strong?"

Marina stared at him peculiarly with a small teasing smirk. "And just who would be referring to as your 'crystal beauty'…?"

"Who else would you think?"

He suddenly locked his lips with hers in a kiss. All the battles had gotten him so excited that he felt more than overly confident to do just about anything, even proclaim his love for Marina through actions rather than words. He didn't care for who that watched. Not even for Team Plasma, who that the moment began to feel worthless within Kamon's eyes, believing they weren't even worth of this powerful trainer's time and his undivided attention. He didn't give a shit about them; all he cared for was Marina, as he confessed his love amongst the chaos of the many battles still raging throughout the gym.

When Kamon finally released Marina of his confessional kiss she smirked. "About damn time! Who would have thought that it would only take a chaotic battle-filled atmosphere to get you going? That's so you Kamon… you really haven't changed from when I first met you eight years ago, have you…?"

Kamon smirked. "You better believe it… baby."

"Umm… hate to break your romantic moment within the chaos of a war zone, but that's where we're practically are – a war zone…!" Skyla snapped them out of it. "Save it for later and let's get this over with!"

With a red embarrassed flush upon their cheeks, Marina and Kamon picked up where they left off and continued to battle. Meanwhile in their Pokémon forms, Celebi was playfully nudging a smirking Entei during their short break from the constant battles. About time Kamon made a move!

Ghetsis had returned to N's room after broadcasting his grandeur speech throughout Castelia City. It was his hope that N had changed his mind after giving his situation some thought, returning to his side as Team Plasma's king once more. N however, continued to refuse his offer. In a way, Ghetsis wasn't so surprised by this; he could see a new light of independence within the boy's eyes that never used to be there. N was a completely different person… almost unrecognisable. He was no longer a weak child who couldn't think for himself… but a man.

Ghetsis hated this. "I was right to think to have never let you fly away that day…" he said. "I knew that walking outside alone would change you for the worst. Your time away with that bloody Pokémon had blinded you to what is true. All of my efforts to keep you pure have been for nothing. You are now a broken instrument impossible to repair. It times like these I'm reminded just how much I despise a human's willpower... the ability to choose for himself."

"And there it is – your true nature," N was disgusted by his father's words. "I am a broken instrument am I…? Just goes to show how little you think of me. I'm disposable to you. Well now I know that my answer is clear… but then again it always had been. I will never return to Team Plasma. I will never return to you."

Ghetsis just scoffed at him. "Just as well; I have no need for a broken tool. You were nothing but a waste of my time."

"And I have no need for a selfish and spineless deluded father like you! Reshiram has been a better father to me than you ever will be!"

An instance of violent rumbling put an abrupt halt to their argument, taking a moment to notice the ground shaking under their feet. Soon that rumbling was accompanied by the sounds of explosions, making their hearts beat faster with fear than what it first did when first noticing the chaos. Just what was going on out there?

This question was answered when a grunt barged through the door with panic struck over his face. "My lord, we're under attack!"

"Under attack… by who?"

"By that young girl and her assailants!"

N's face brightened with hope. "It's Hilda! I knew she'd come and rescue me!"

Ghetsis was furious. "Are you to tell me that girl is the cause of all this chaos?"

"Well… no. It's something else… and considering what that is I suggest we leave now!"

"For heaven's sake man; just spit it out already! Just what is attacking us?"

"It's the legendary Renegade… Giratina!"

Giratina had begun his destruction. Within his terrible gargantuan dragon form he slowly smashed down the structure of the extravagant palace, causing wreck and ruin of hellish proportions. His ghastly screech echoed throughout the chaos, striking absolute fear into the hearts his fleeing foes… and even his friends alike. It had been eight years since Dawn and Shaymin heard the terrifying war-cry of the Renegade, but this was the first time their new friends heard the roars of this wicked beast. The unlimited destruction accompanied by the deafening screeches reminded them of this Being's true nature, as the dark side of the great Arceus, and the universal personification of violence itself.

But despite this Shaymin continued to fight alongside her terrifying teacher, defeating opposing Pokémon the few brave souls of Team Plasma dared to challenge them with. Most of the grunts and their Pokémon had already fled from the burning palace, smart enough to realise that to stay and fight would be a meaningless struggle... as well as death defying.

The fate of Team Plasma had already been judged by the Renegade, along with the other giant black dragon adding fuel to the deafening chaos with her series of Fusion Bolt attacks. Zekrom was enjoying this just as much as Giratina was. Then there was Shaymin who just continued to fight off the remaining opponents as peacefully as she could. Well… as peaceful as the hellish disorder of endless fire, smoke, explosions and falling debris allowed her… It was pointless to fight against it. This was Team Plasma's end.

The burning destruction hadn't reached Hilda and her small rescue team, continuing to race down the winding extravagant gold corridors on their way to N's rescue. They had already checked the throne room but he wasn't there. His bedroom was their next bet, which was where they were presently headed. They could hear the utter chaos, terror and destruction as a faded, but booming echo on the other side of the palace. They tried to ignore it as best as they could, keeping their minds set on their objective to retrieve N.

They finally arrived at the door leading to the childish nightmare of N's old bedroom. They wasted no time barging down the door to see that he was definitely inside – and more than overly happy to see them. He knew they would arrive to rescue him sooner or later… it was only a matter of time. It reinforced the truth that he wasn't alone in this world; even if his father and Team Plasma had abandoned him, he still had Hilda and his friends to rely on. They were his true family.

"Hilda! I knew it! I knew you would eventually come!"

"Hey there N, you've been a good boy…?" Hilda greeted with a proud heroic smirk.

"Hey there, dumbass!" Hilbert said, poking his head out from the side of the broken doorway. N was a little impressed to hear Hilbert's little greeting, but he knew it was only a joke to lighten the mood. It was with good intentions. "Hope you weren't waiting for too long, buddy…"

"So… we're leaving now."

"Like hell you are!" Ghetsis disrupted, ruining the little reunion. "I'm not going to let you all go without a fight!" He pulled out a Poké ball from the inside of his bright, multi-colour patterned robe. "I won't let you all get away for destroying my palace!"

"Are you serious old man…?" Hilda continued to wear a proud smirk, amused by this crazy old man's last stand.

She and everyone else could tell this man had no sanity left. Watching his palace and Team Plasma slowly become a burning pile of nothing right before him, had dissolved any rationale that still remained. Ghetsis was rogue – more so than he was after N's defeat as champion over six months ago.

Hilda continued to tease him. "Don't you remember the last time we battled? I guess you want to be humiliated again."

"You bitch! You will pay for destroying my glorious organisation… my perfect world! If I am to die here, then I'm taking you with me!"

Hilda was about the call on her first Pokémon to begin the battle against Ghetsis… until N pulled her back disrupting her.

"N, what are you doing?"

"This is not your fight Hilda..." N replied. "Not this time."

"Just what are you saying…?"

"I will battle Ghetsis - my father. It is time he pays for all the turmoil he's caused me, and it needs to be done by my own hand."

Ghetsis overheard N's little proclamation and laughed. "You… battle me…? Ha! If you couldn't defeat this savage six months ago then what chance do you have in defeating me?"

Hilda understood the sentiment behind N's words, and was prepared to give him this match. "N… are you sure about this…?" He said nothing. He didn't need to; the stern determination within his eyes said it all. She complied to his request with a single assured nod. "All right then… the floor is yours."

"Thanks Hilda. Reshiram!"

The Being of Truth joined N's side. "I'm with you, my friend! Let us finish this together!"

"Father, I challenge you!"

Ghetsis found his son's sound of challenge amusing. "Heh! Very well, but don't say I warned you! I'll show you just how useless you are!"

Team Plasma had absolutely no chance in taking over the gym in Opelucid City. Even with their strongest of grunts, it was hopeless in fighting against the gym leaders Drayden and Iris, and their powerful Dragon-type Pokémon. Not only did Team Plasma have to deal with the strongest gym leaders in Unova's Pokémon League, but they also had Max and his Jirachi to deal with, along with Gary and his legendary partner Uxie.

Like Ash, Gary had been a trainer for many years, earning a name for himself ranking amongst some of the top veterans in the world. He may have moved on to become a Pokémon Researcher following the footsteps of his grandfather, but whilst battling Team Plasma has proved his rightful place as one of the most respected trainers in the world. He was running circles around them with his all-powerful Pokémon defeating them one-by-one with ease… even taking three of them on all at once! It was a quick victory in Opelucid City; it was all over before it even began.

Gary sighed content at a job well done, after defeating the last grunt and his Pokémon. "Well, I guess that's that. Kinda quick if you ask me… And these were supposed to be the strong ones… ha!"

"You still got it, Gary," Max replied. "You're proof to never mess with the vets!"

"Hey, I'm not that old!"

"I guess the fate of every criminal organisation is the same," Professor Oak replied. "The quicker they rise to power, the easier they fall. It happened to Team Galactic of Sinnoh, to Magma and Aqua in Hoenn… even Team Rocket is no more and has been for years. Team Plasma is just another failed criminal organisation to join the fray. But with every fall a new one rises. Another will take Team Plasma's place I'm sure… but not for a long while."

"And when they finally show themselves gramps, I'll crush them just like I did these thugs! They got nothing on me for I am Gary Oak, one of the world's best! Even if I am kinda retired, I still got the moves!"

Uxie smirked. "Too bad you were never champion; Ash got the drop on you there…"

"Hey! Since when did you become a little smart alic?" Even after all these years, it was still a bit of a sore subject for the exceptionally seasoned trainer.

"Since I started hanging out with you, playa!"

"I wonder if everyone else is also finishing up…?" Jirachi spoke, deciding to change the subject before things turned ugly. "If it was easy for us to defeat Team Plasma here, then it shouldn't have been a problem for everyone else. We all should be done before night's end."

"I'm not so sure; some may have some trouble more than others," Professor Oak replied. "It depends on their location, the number of grunts they need to deal with, the legendary partners in their group, and especially the level of skill the trainers have. I imagine young Bianca and Ms Juniper are having the most trouble, since there is only one trainer – whose skills are only rather new – and no Legendary Beings in their party."

Max agreed with Oak's opinion on the situation. "Yeah, they didn't really think that one through did they…? Since we're done here, maybe we should go and help them out."

"Perhaps we should. The both of us will go. We'll have Gary remain here just in case there is another takeover, since their first attempt failed."

Gary agreed to that. "You guys head on over; the gym leaders and I can handle things here."

"Very well, then. Max, Jirachi… let's go."

"We're right behind you, professor!"

This was the most difficult, yet most exciting battle Bianca had ever experienced in her career as a Pokémon Trainer. Cobalion was truly testing her abilities and skill as her most daunting adversary yet. He was truly the God of Iron Will, challenging all six of her strongest battle partners alone and with all he had. He was not holding back. This fight was indeed in against Bianca's favour, but she thought of the situation as not impossible but an opportune chance. It will at last settle her doubts once and for all if training Pokémon for the purpose of friendly contest was truly right for her. He was the final form of certainty in the fate of her decision.

One-by-one, Cobalion defeated her Pokémon. Each defeat was one just more step in Bianca finalising her decision. It seemed hopeless; even if he was a legendary Cobalion was just one Pokémon against six of her mightiest. Well… what she could call the mightiest by her standards… Their powers were evenly matched, and yet Cobalion continued to have the upper hand. It made Bianca doubt her abilities more so than before. Perhaps being a Pokémon Trainer wasn't for her after all…

But even if the situation seemed grim Bianca could see a glimmer of hope, for with each victory against her Pokémon, she noticed his resilient cold eyes of gold dim with growing fatigue. He was slowly becoming exhausted, having to fight a series of equally matched opponents in a constant flow with no breaks in between. He was making the same mistake Virizion made, when she challenged Hilda inside Castelia hotel before this journey began. She just had to hold on a little longer. There was still a chance!

She just needed to continue to fight. Fight until one was left standing. It may have seemed hopeless but she wasn't going to give up, for her Iron Will was just as strong as his. With this battle nearing its end she could feel her blood rush in excitement. There was still one more chance in defeating this Legendary Pokémon, with that final chance in the form of her strongest and first ever partner.

With her heart pounding in anticipation, she returned her just defeated second-to-last Pokémon back into the safety of its Poké ball, and pulled out another holding her final chance. "You're my last hope, my old friend. You're up Samurott!"

Samurott emerged forth from it safe confines of its Poké ball, with a roar that signalled its readiness to battle. Cobalion could see the determination within his opponent's eyes that it was ready to fight with all it had, for the honour of its beloved trainer and for its fallen comrades. It was time to determine this match and Bianca's fate as a trainer.

"Samurott, use Hydro Pump!"

With Samurott's first instruction voiced the last round began. It fired a strong double shot of fortified water straight for Cobalion, who wasn't quick enough to dodge its line of fire and was hit taking a vast amount of damage. Cobalion's energy was now only hanging by a thread after that short awful beating. He only had enough strength left to make one final move. If he was to miss this one, then his fate would be determined.

His last stand was a Sacred Sword attack. With all the strength, speed and resilience he had left he charged for Samurott, with both his yellow horns glowing with a strong spiritual force that represented the extent of his will… and it was very strong. He was successful in making contact with Samurott, having slashed the fully evolved, armoured Water-Type sea lion cutting over three quarters of its strength… and its own overall will.

But even if Cobalion's attack was successful, Samurott wasn't down and out yet. Despite the heavy damage it took from the Being's Sacred Sword it still had enough strength to make one last attack. Meanwhile, Cobalion's strength had finally been exhausted. That Sacred Sword was all he had left. His fate was already sealed, with this battle decided with Bianca's next instruction.

"Samurott, finish him off with an Aqua Tail!"

And that was that. With a swing of Samurott's tail imbued with the strength of the waters combined Cobalion was finished. He fell to the cold floor finally defeated. Bianca had won. Her questions of self-doubt had finally been answered. Thanks to Cobalion, she now knew within her heart that she was worthy to be called a Pokémon Trainer.

However she wasn't in the mood to celebrate her victory and finally resolved epiphany, watching the fallen Being of Iron will revert back to his human form having no strength left to maintain his Pokémon shape. She quickly approached the fainted god and held him within his arms. She even removed the cloth covering his nose and mouth so she could see the full extent of the bruises that tainted his handsome youthful face.

Samurott stood behind Bianca looking down as Cobalion, who slowly opened his eyes that immediately looked upon the kind young trainer who held him within her arms.

"Cobalion… why?" Bianca softly asked. "Why did you challenge me?"

After a moment's silence to think of his answer, he finally replied to her question. "I wanted to help you," he said. "I wanted to provide you with the answer that would finally put your uncertainty to rest – to your self-doubting question of your skills as a trainer."

"You knew about that… how?"

"When you returned from the past I continued to watch you. Even when you left this town to temporality re-join your allies elsewhere you never left my site. So then, it should be no surprise that I overheard you speak with that woman, and your conversation about doubting your abilities as a Pokémon Trainer. At that moment I felt the need to help you, as a sign of respect from one enemy to another. Hopefully now, your answer is clear."

Bianca smiled. "Cobalion… thank you."

"You should go; that woman needs you. Just leave me here alone to suffer like the enemy that I am."

Bianca shook her head. "Even if we are enemies I'm not leaving you like this. Besides, I have a feeling that the professor will be fine. Let me help you here… as a sign of respect from one enemy to another."

"Then… allow me to offer you a piece of wisdom in return for your kindness towards your enemy. This war is far from over; even after Team Plasma's fall here you still have one battle left to face. Kyurem will soon make his move and believe me when I say… that what is happening now does not even compare to what he has in store for all of you. Be prepared… for the end of the world."