Color of Your Soul
Chapter 25: Desperation
AN: Holy shit this is a long chapter. I hope the content makes up for it though.
Hilbert looked surprised as his childhood friend Bianca was facing him.
"Bianca..." Hilbert said. "What the hell're you doing here?"
"I was heading back to Nuvema to get something done, when I saw you flying to Nacrene City," Bianca said.
"So you followed me," Hilbert pieced it together. "But why? Why you? Shouldn't you be with Cheren?"
"I wanted to talk to you! I want to know why you joined Team Plasma!" Bianca yelled.
"Like I said, I have my reasons," Hilbert answered. "Reasons that you don't need to know about."
"Why!?" Bianca yelled. "Why can't we know about it!?"
"Just because!" Hilbert growled.
"'Just because' isn't going to justify it!" Bianca yelled. "Please...tell me...why did you abandon us...?"
Hilbert gritted his teeth in rage. He was angry. He was angry at himself. Angry that he had to lie to one of his best friends. Angry that he had to lie to Bianca of all people; the one person he could think of who didn't deserve this kind of pain. Angry that her life was in jeopardy and he knows it, yet he can't tell her or else she would die along with his other best friend and professor, and he can't do anything about it.
Angry that he was only a puppet for the team he despised.
It was there that his Xtransceiver rang, and he answered it.
"What?" Hilbert asked.
"Hilbert?" Hilda answered. "Did you secure the Dark Stone?"
"Yeah," Hilbert reported. "It's in my hands now. Just let me finish up here and I'll head back."
"Alright...I'll regroup with you now," Hilda said.
"Suit yourself," Hilbert said as he cut off the transmission. "And there you have it. Soon enough, Hilda and whoever she decides to bring is gonna be here soon. Unless Cheren can take a hint and rushes over here, you'll end up fighting all of us. I won't say anything harsh. Just go before you get hurt."
"NO!" Bianca yelled. "I'M NOT LEAVING!"
"Bianca...!" Hilbert growled, annoyed by her stubbornness. "Just leave a bastard like me and GO!"
"NO I WON'T!" Bianca yelled. "You're not a bastard Hilbert...you're kind, generous, somewhat dense and a hot-head, but you're not the type who would do bad things on a whim."
Hilbert stayed silent, shocked by Bianca's outburst.
"Please...tell me why..." Bianca said. "Why did you betray us...? Why did you side with Team Plasma...? Is it really because of something you can't tell us? Is it because of Hilda...?"
Hilbert's eyes widened. She was right. He certainly couldn't tell her about the bombs, less she faces judgment in Hilda's demented hands. On the other hand, he did join them to also be with Hilda and learn about his past, but he also had hope that he could somehow convince her to defect from Team Plasma.
None of that mattered now, however. Soon, Hilda was going to be here, and knowing her obvious jealous persona, Bianca was as good as dead if she saw her with him.
He had to get her out of here.
"Fine then..." Hilbert muttered. "I'll tell you...IF you can beat me in a battle."
"Eh?" Bianca asked.
"If you win," Hilbert said. "Then I'll tell you what you want to know. But, if I win, then you never approach me ever again."
"H-Hilbert..." Bianca stammered, shocked that he would put up such a proposal.
'This is for your own good...' Hilbert thought. "Well?"
Bianca looked scared. Battling Hilbert? That would prove to be the most difficult, if not impossible task in her life. She saw first-hand Hilbert's battling skill and prowess. While he wasn't as precise as Cheren and didn't abuse type advantages and such, the raw skill and endurance his Pokémon had when fighting was more than enough to make up for it, along with their own determination to challenge the impossible to win. While Cheren was calculative and precise with fighting, in Bianca's eyes, Hilbert was a complete brute who was willing to trust his Pokémon and take the biggest risks, which set him apart from Cheren. Maybe that was why Cheren never won against him. She personally never wanted to fight him for that reason, and much more.
But even then, this was possibly the only chance she had to get Hilbert back. She has to risk it.
"It's all or nothing..." Bianca said. "Alright, deal!"
Hilbert grimaced. He expected Bianca to back down, but such a thought would be an insult to his best friend. She was indeed strong, but she was unsure of herself. Her lack of self-confidence was what was keeping her down.
"I'm not gonna hold back," Hilbert warned her.
"I wouldn't want it any other way," Bianca declared. "Emboar!"
Emboar let out a battle cry and charged at Samurott.
"Samurott!" Hilbert yelled.
Samurott brandished his sword and intercepted the blow.
"Lord Ghetsis," Hilda reported. "Hilbert has secured the Dark Stone."
"WHAT!?"
Everyone looked as Ghetsis formed a malicious smirk on his face.
"Excellent," Ghetsis said. "As expected of the Hero of Ideals."
"We're too late...!" Juniper gasped.
"Hilbert...?" Alder asked. "You mean the lad from before...?"
"Y-Yes..." Cheren reluctantly answered.
Alder then turned to Ghetsis, glaring murderously.
"What did you do!?" Alder yelled.
"Oh, the boy just realized our resolves and joined the fray for liberation," Ghetsis said. "And is now to serve as the Hero of Ideals, and wield the legendary black dragon, Zekrom."
"Zekrom!?" Marshal gasped.
"Hilda," Ghetsis ordered. "Go regroup with Hilbert. I shall join you momentarily."
"Yes, my lord," Hilda said as she recalled Shiny Samurott and summoned Volcarona. "Well then, adieu."
The Atlas moth looked up and blasted the ceiling with a ball of energy, then proceeded to fly off.
"Wait!" Cheren yelled as he recalled Serperior and summoned Unfezant to pursue her.
"Cheren wait!" Cedric yelled.
"Oh youth," Ghetsis chuckled. "Such foolishness."
Eelektross blocked a hit from Sawk, while throwing the humanoid at Bouffalant. The afro managed to cushion the fall.
"-You alright?" Bouffalant asked.
"-Kh...Thanks,-" Sawk answered.
"Now, do you two wish to continue?" Ghetsis asked as his eelektross cracked his claws.
The two Pokémon faced the eel, but then Eelektross suddenly jumped out of the way, avoiding three blasts of energy.
"-What the–!?-" Eelektross gasped.
"...So you all gathered..." Ghetsis said.
He glanced up to the opening that Hilda made, where three individuals jumped down into the room, along with their Pokémon.
"Grimsley! Caitlin! Shauntal!" Marshal gasped.
"Nice timing, all of you," Alder said.
"Well, we couldn't let just you two have all the fun, now can we?" Grimsley smirked as his bisharp leered at the eelektross.
"You two truly are hot-blooded," Caitlin sighed as her gothitelle stood beside her. "It was simple to track you two down because of it."
"Isn't this all exciting though?" Shauntal squealed as her chandelure glared at the eelektross. "'The clock is ticking as the race to obtain the legendary Zekrom begins! Which side will prevail?' This is so novel-idea worthy!"
"Can't you all take this seriously?" Marshal asked as Sawk jumped back to his side.
"To think I would be able to see the Elite Four of the Unova League and their 'Champion' gathered in one place," Ghetsis said as Eelektross got back up. "This must be my lucky day, perhaps..."
"Ghetsis, was it?" Alder asked. "If my assumption is right, you're going to have Hilbert control Zekrom, while that N boy controls Reshiram, correct?"
"Yes, so what of it?" Ghetsis asked.
"While your plan does sound logical, it'll never work in the end," Alder said. "Do you want to know why?"
"Oh, enlighten me then," Ghetsis challenged Alder.
"Because the two dragons are destined to fight one another until a clear victor is decided," Alder stated. "Truth and Ideals are independent morals. Those two will eventually fight each other with the dragons to decide who is right. That's why the war started in the first place."
"Foolish," Ghetsis simply scoffed. "Those two will cooperate. Hilbert has already subjected himself to our truth."
"And that's where you're wrong," Alder said. "If I can tell from when I first met him, he's pretty adamant. Too adamant to just simply comply with you."
"And what makes you so confident that the boy will rebel?" Alder asked.
"Because he is Roy's son," Alder proclaimed proudly. "If he's anything like his father, then his fangs won't be plucked out that easily!"
"So he was Roy's offspring," Marshal said.
"So you noticed," Cedric said.
"He gave off a familiar vibe," Alder said. "Those two looked alike, and the boy shares his personality. It was only a matter of time before I realized it."
While Alder mused on the memories of the man called 'Roy', Ghetsis' eyes were widened, as if he was in some sort of a trance.
"Roy...?" Ghetsis muttered, before sneering. "So you all are affiliated with that pest."
"You know him!?" Alder gasped.
"Indeed," Ghetsis said. "It's a nostalgic name...so nostalgic that it makes me want to puke."
The five Pokémon all gathered around Ghetsis and Eelektross, making the eel nervous.
"It would seem that the time has come for me to leave," Ghetsis decided.
"You plan to run!?" Alder growled.
"Please, it'll be more troublesome to face all five of you at once," Ghetsis said. "I need to prepare for the plans to unveil."
As Ghetsis turned away, recalling Eelektross, the Shadow Triad suddenly behind them.
"Lord Ghetsis," one of them addressed. "It is time to go."
"Wait!" Alder yelled.
As they all jumped after them, one of them threw a smoke bomb to the ground, releasing a huge smokescreen that blinded everyone.
"Gah! I can't see!" Marshal coughed. "Sawk!"
Sawk flung his arm strongly, clearing the smoke. Unfortunately, they escaped.
"Damn it!" Marshal cursed.
"What do we do now?" Shauntal asked.
"We head to Nacrene City," Alder said as he released a braviary. "We can't allow Team Plasma to obtain Zekrom."
"And we need to have a little 'talk' with this 'Hilbert' boy, I presume?" Caitlin asked.
Alder nodded in response.
"Professor Juniper, Cedric," Alder said. "I advise that you two head back to Nuvema."
"What!? Why!?" Juniper protested.
"We can't afford to let you two get hurt or get captured by Team Plasma," Alder reasoned. "We'll go and see if we can reason with the boy. Surely there must be an explanation to his actions."
"Fine..." Juniper muttered, not liking the idea of having to sit in the sidelines.
"Be careful," Cedric said.
"Of course, Cedric," Alder responded.
They all got on their mode of transport and flew off to Nacrene, while the Juniper family released their unfezants.
"Dad," Juniper asked Cedric. "Who's Roy?"
"Roy..." Cedric answered her. "He was Hilbert's father."
"Razor Shell!"
Samurott raised his sword high and smashed it at Emboar, making the Fire-type jump back to avoid it.
"F-Flamethrower!"
Emboar released a stream of flames from his snout, aimed for Samurott.
"Scald!"
Samurott spewed boiling water at the incoming flamethrower, which caused the flames to evaporate quickly and cause a steam to rise into the field.
'I won't be able to keep this up...' Bianca thought. 'Uh...let's see...Samurott is a Water-type, so Emboar has a disadvantage...Chandelure won't work either...'
Bianca looked over to Emboar, but her partner was still raring to fight, determined to fight his former friend.
'Emboar still wants to fight Samurott...' Bianca thought.
"Megahorn!"
Bianca wasn't given time to think, as Samurott charged at Emboar with his horn glowing brightly.
"H-Hammer Arm!"
Emboar raised his arms up high, charging them with energy, and slammed them down upon Samurott's Megahorn. The Water-type didn't give in, however, and proceeded to fling his horn up in retaliation to Emboar's Hammer Arm. It was locked into a stalemate, until Samurott decided that this was an opening, and proceeded to grab his sword.
"!? Emboar, jump back!" Bianca yelled, noticing Samurott grabbing his sword.
Emboar quickly jumped back, making Samurott fling his horn up and losing his balance.
"Now, Wild Charge!" Bianca yelled.
Hilbert's eyes widened in shock that the Fire-type had an Electric-type move in his arsenal. Emboar took a fighting stance, where electricity began to surge within him. Surrounded by an electric aura, Emboar charged at Samurott. Wasting no time to save him, Hilbert hastily recalled Samurott and replaced him with Excadrill, who took the blow instead.
"What!?" Bianca gasped.
Due to being a Ground-type, Excadrill took the blow, but suffered no damage from it.
"No fair!" Bianca pouted.
"It's totally fair," Hilbert muttered. "You never said anything about not being allowed to switch."
Bianca looked mad and glared at Hilbert, but decided to comply by switching Emboar out for a swanna.
"If you can do it, then so can I!" Bianca yelled.
"Well now," Hilbert said as Excadrill sharpened his claws.
Meanwhile, Lenora and Hawes managed to recover from the assault, and were now watching the battle between the two childhood friends.
"Those two really became strong since last time we saw them..." Hawes said sadly. "But...why would Hilbert join Team Plasma...?"
"I don't know, honey," Lenora answered. "But...for both of their sakes, I hope Bianca wins. That way we can learn why he did that...and help him..."
Hawes looked sadly at his wife, until he heard something from behind.
"?! Dear look out!"
Hawes pushed Lenora out of the way, as a beam of energy blasted him.
"HAWES!" Lenora cried as she rushed to help him.
Lenora looked up and saw that the Team Plasma grunts from before were recovering and sending out their Pokémon.
"Why you...!" Lenora growled as she released her stoutland.
"Scald!"
"Rock Slide!"
Swanna spewed boiling water at Excadrill, while Excadrill formed a rock in his hands. The mole dodged the water and hurled the rock above Swanna.
"Dodge it!" Bianca cried.
Swanna managed to fly away from the rock before it dispersed into a landslide, but it still got pelted by some of the stray rocks.
"Focus Blast!"
"Hurricane!"
Excadrill charged a Focus Blast in his claws and hurled it at Swanna, while the swan unleashed several waves of wind, clashing with the ball of energy and becoming a massive hurricane that consumed the attack, but also extinguished the hurricane.
"Th-that was close..." Bianca sighed.
"Archeops!"
Hilbert instantly opted out Excadrill for Archeops, as the reptilian bird took flight and flew for Swanna.
"What!?" Bianca gasped.
"Focus on the battle!" Hilbert scolded. "Stone Edge!"
Archeops formed several jagged rocks around him and launched them at Swanna. The rocks stabbed at Swanna, the bird crying in pain.
"Swanna!" Bianca cried.
Swanna fell and crashed into the ground, unable to battle anymore.
"One down..." Hilbert said.
Bianca quickly recalled Swanna, and released Musharna.
"Musharna...?" Hilbert asked.
"Flash!"
Musharna released a blinding light, blinding Arhceops harshly.
"-Gah!-" Archeops winced in pain as he fell, unable to keep flight due to not being able to see.
"Now, Hypnosis!"
As Archeops fell, the light cleared, allowing Archeops to recover his sight. However, once he opened his eyes, Musharna was already staring at him in the eye with a hypnotic trance.
"-Wha...?-" Archeops asked, before falling asleep.
"Now, Dream Eater!"
Musharna leaned over and mouthed Archeops' head, draining his health by eating his dreams. Musharna let go of Archeops, who fell down, unconscious.
"So you used Flash as a distraction to land a hit with Hypnosis, huh..." Hilbert muttered. "Clever..."
"I'm not that weak...!" Bianca protested.
"Whoever said you were weak?" Hilbert asked as he released Samurott once more.
"Samurott...!" Bianca gasped, seeing Hilbert's best Pokémon back on the field. "Musharna, Flash!"
Musharna released a blinding light once more, blinding Samurott as well.
"Now, Hypnosis once more!" Bianca commanded.
Musharna went over to Samurott to hypnotize him at a close enough range for a guaranteed hit, but Samurott's horn began to glow, and became a long spike that stabbed Musharna and sending the tapir away from him.
"What!?" Bianca gasped.
"Did you really think the same trick will work twice?" Hilbert asked.
Samurott brandished his sword and slammed Musharna to the ground, rendering the Psychic-type unable to battle.
"Musharna!" Bianca cried.
"You still want to continue?" Hilbert asked.
Refusing to give up, Bianca sent out Stoutland in place of Musharna. In response, Hilbert switched out Samurott for Excadrill.
"Stoutland, a Normal-type, and a really strong one at that," Hilbert commented. "Against a Steel-type like Excadrill, however..."
"Return!"
Stoutland howled to the sky and rammed Excadrill with all his might. Excadrill took the blow and was pushed back while trying to hold the attack back.
"Huh!?" Bianca gasped.
"Normal isn't very effective to Steel you know," Hilbert informed her. "Focus Blast!"
Excadrill charged a Focus Blast in one of his claws and slammed it into Stoutland's face. The dog fell back from the collision of the attack, while Excadrill jumped back to regroup. Stoutland recovered from the blow and rushed back to Bianca.
"Are you okay, Stoutland?" Bianca asked.
"-No worries, Bianca!-" Stoutland barked to reassure his trainer.
Bianca looked relieved that Stoutland showed signs that he was okay, but shifted his gaze back to Hilbert; his cold stare still hanging on his face.
"We're down two members, while we only took out Archeops..." Bianca assessed the situation. "He should still have only five members, while we have six in total...so we're even in amount, I guess...but..."
"Shouldn't you concentrate on the battle?!" Hilbert yelled as Excadrill launched another Focus Blast at them.
Stoutland jumped out of the way to avoid it, as their attention was shifted back to the battle.
'Excadrill's a Steel-type, so Return won't work...' Bianca thought. 'He's also a Ground-type, so Wild Charge won't work, and Ice Fang won't do as much because he's a Steel-type...wait...he's still a Ground-type...then maybe...!'
'What's she planning...?' Hilbert thought. "Drill Run!"
Excadrill brought his claws together and formed a drill and rocketed towards Stoutland. It was when Hilbert noticed that she was grinning that he realized that he made a mistake.
"Now, Surf!" Bianca yelled.
"What!?"
Stoutland created an orb of water in his mouth and launched it at Excadrill right before he closed in for an impact. The orb then burst into a huge wave, crashing down upon the mole, giving him little time to react.
"-GAAGH!?-" he cried as he was washed down by the tidal wave and crashed into the concrete stairs.
"That thing gets Surf...!?" Hilbert muttered.
Excadrill struggled to get back up, where the dog began to rush for him.
"Ice Fang!"
"Tch! Metal Claw!"
Excadrill sharpened his claws into pure steel as he lunged for Stoutland, as the dog froze his fangs and lunged for Excadrill. Stoutland sunk his fangs into Excadrill, while Excadrill jabbed Stoutland with his claws. Both unwilling to let go, until both of their energies were drained, and they fainted.
"A double knock out huh..." Hilbert said. "Heh...You really became a strong trainer, Bianca..."
Bianca had a faint blush color her face, but quickly dismissed it in favor of focusing on the battle.
"But..." Hilbert said as he released Victini. "How long can you keep up?"
Hilda was riding Volcarona, soaring to Nacrene City to regroup with Hilbert, but was a little peeved at the moment. The cause was one pesky trainer relentlessly pursuing her in the skies.
"Air Slash!"
His unfezant shot several blades of air at her volcarona, making the Atlas moth flinch a little.
"Steady..." Hilda commanded. "Flamethrower!"
Volcarona looked back and spewed a stream of flames at the unfezant. The unfezant dodged it gracefully in the air, where his trainer was hanging on for dear life.
"Don't let up, Unfezant!" he yelled.
The trainer of the unfezant, Cheren, was in hot pursuit of Hilda, as they were headed to Nacrene City, where Hilbert was stealing the Dark Stone.
"You're persistent, you little worm!" Hilda growled.
"I'm not gonna let you have Zekrom!" Cheren yelled back.
"And what will you do with Zekrom?!" Hilda yelled.
"At the very least not let Team Plasma have it!" Cheren retorted as Unfezant continued to shoot Air Slashes at Volcarona to shoot the Atlas moth down.
"You aren't worthy to even hold the stone!" Hilda yelled. "That right is for Hilbert and Hilbert alone!"
"Hilbert..." Cheren muttered. "...What did you do to make him join you guys!?"
"And why would I tell you?" Hilda hissed. "Hilbert belongs to me–I mean Team Plasma! No one else is worthy enough to be with him!"
"And who are you to declare that!?" Cheren yelled. "Hilbert would never join you guys without a serious reason!"
Hilda leered at the boy, annoyed that he was right about that.
"If Hilbert won't tell me..." Cheren muttered. "Then I'll make you tell me!"
"Good luck with that," Hilda scoffed as Volcarona gained speed.
"Unfezant!" Cheren yelled.
The bird nodded and gained speed as well. Soon enough, he was neck to neck with the volcarona.
"Answer me! What did you do to convince him!?" Cheren yelled.
Hilda stayed silent, glaring murderously at the boy while resisting the urge to detonate the bomb in his neck.
The Victory Pokémon floated in the air, looking serious, but somewhat reluctant.
"-Are you sure about this, Hilbert...?-" Victini asked nervously.
"It's for her own good," Hilbert answered him.
Victini still looked worried, but decided to follow his trainer's word and faced Bianca.
"Chandelure!"
Bianca released her chandelure, as he floated into the air along with Victini.
"A Ghost against a Psychic...well you have the type advantage at least," Hilbert said. "Zen Headbutt."
Victini charged energy into his forehead and charged at Chandelure, who dodged it and floated behind him.
"Shadow Ball!"
"Thunder!"
Chandelure charged a shadowy blob and launched it at Victini. Victini turned around and shot a jolt of electricity into the air, causing clouds to form. Right before the Shadow Ball could hit, Thunder struck and shot down the Shadow Ball.
"Inferno!"
"Fire Blast!"
Chandelure created a huge ball of flames and hurled it at Victini, while Victini unleashed a blast of smoldering flames shaped like a star-like shape. The two flames engulfed each other and erased one another. Smoke formed from the collision, blinding Chandelure.
"-Huh?! Where did he go...!?-" Chandelure yelled, looked around frantically to find his foe.
"Zen Headbutt!"
From the smoke, Victini shot out of it and rammed Chandelure with a Zen Headbutt. The Ghost cried in pain as Victini ended up bringing him to the ground, smashing him into it. Victini flew back, where from the smoke, a stray Shadow Ball shot out from it, pelting him with the shadowy blob.
"-Gaugh!?-" Victini gagged.
When the smoke cleared, Chandelure was still conscious, and had fired one last Shadow Ball, before he fainted. Victini managed to withstand the blow however, and returned to the ground.
"Now you only have two Pokémon left," Hilbert said. "If I recall, Mienshao and Emboar..."
Bianca released Mienshao, who took a fighting stance as he landed. Victini looked a bit nervous as he faced the ermine.
"Zen Headbutt!"
"S-Stone Edge!"
Victini charged up for another Zen Headbutt and charged at Mienshao, but Mienshao jumped above him as Victini was closing in and slapped the ground, where a jagged rock shot up from the ground below Victini and jabbed him in the gut.
"-Guogh!?-" Victini gagged.
"Now, Acrobatics!" Bianca commanded.
As Victini recoiled from getting stabbed by a Stone Edge, Mienshao nimbly smashed Victini to the ground, making him bounce off the ground, where Mienshao shot his 'sleeve' at him, which wrapped around the rodent. Mienshao then proceeded to fling him into the air and smashed him once more into the ground, this time stronger than before and finally flung him into a streetlight. Victini couldn't handle this much punishment, and fell to the ground unconscious.
"Wha–!? Victini!" Hilbert cried.
"D-Did we just beat a legendary...?" Bianca asked, genuinely shocked that they could even pull that off.
"As expected of that thing..." Hilbert muttered, knowing just how strong that particular mienshao is. "Your dad was a ferocious trainer...but..."
Hilbert released Accelgor.
"It's not over yet," Hilbert muttered.
"-It's been a while since we fought, Accelgor,-" Mienshao chimed. "-Though I preferred a better situation than this...-"
Accelgor said nothing, and readied himself for battle.
"You know him?" Hilbert asked.
"-...An old friend...-" Accelgor said.
"You wanna let Samurott take him then?" Hilbert asked. "I don't wanna make you fight your own friend."
"-It's fine...-" Accelgor said. "-Truthfully, I would enjoy fighting him. It's been years since the last time we fought.-"
"Is that so..." Hilbert said.
"Aura Sphere!"
"Focus Blast!"
Wasting no time, Mienshao charged up an Aura Sphere, while Accelgor charged up a Focus Blast. The two launched their respective projectiles, which collided and exploded. The two chargd at each other, locking themselves in close combat, refusing to let the other gain the upper hand.
"Acrobati–!"
"Me First!"
Accelgor's eyes glinted as Mienshao jumped back. Accelgor charged at Mienshao at a blinding speed and mimicked the move Mienshao was about to unleash, nimbly pummeled the ermine, who hastily retaliated with the same move. Their whips clashed with one another as they dashed through the city, forcing their trainers to run after them as their fight entered the city. As Mienshao tried to go for a low swipe, Accelgor shot one of his appendages at one of Mienshao's legs, restraining his movement. Accelgor then pulled at the appendage, causing Mienshao to lose his ground and fall. Mienshao quickly got back up, and swung his leg around, flinging Accelgor, who still had a hold on Mienshao's leg, into a lamppost.
"-Gagh...!?-" Accelgor gagged.
Mienshao managed to remove the appendage from his leg with that maneuver, where the two trainers finally caught up to them.
"Accelgor!" Hilbert cried.
"Now, Mienshao!" Bianca called out. "Restrain Accelgor!"
Mienshao nodded in response, and shot his sleeve at Accelgor, wrapping it around the bug and hanging him on said lamppost.
"-You got that style from me, remember?-" Mienshao asked. "-I won't lose to you against my own fighting style.-"
Accelgor just glared at Mienshao as he struggled to break free.
"I guess this is a draw for them...?" Bianca asked Hilbert.
"...You sure about that?" Hilbert asked.
"Eh?"
"-What are you talking about?-" Mienshao asked. "-Accelgor can't move now. I caught him.-"
"-The same can be said for me,-" Accelgor shot back.
"-Huh!?-"
"Giga Drain!"
Accelgor managed to free his arms and grabbed Mienshao's sleeve, where he then began to emit a green spark that spread all over Mienshao, draining his energy.
"-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!?-" Mienshao screamed in pain.
"Mienshao!" Bianca cried.
Mienshao couldn't handle the continuous pain, and was forced to let go of Accelgor just to stop it. Accelgor leaped free as Mienshao fell to his knees.
"-Kh...Nice move...-" Mienshao muttered.
"-...You're polite...as expected...-" Accelgor muttered as he charged a Focus Blast. "-But...-"
As Mienshao tried to retaliate, Accelgor was already above him.
"-This is my win...old friend...-"
Accelgor proceeded to slam the Focus Blast into Mienshao's head at point-blank range, smashing him into the ground and causing a massive explosion. The two humans had to brace themselves as the collision was massive. The smoke cleared, where Mienshao didn't move an inch, and Accelgor stood above him.
"MIENSHAO!" Bianca cried.
Hilbert said nothing and recalled Accelgor.
"Good work...and sorry..." Hilbert muttered to Accelgor's pokéball, before putting it back and releasing Samurott. "Now it's one on one. Emboar versus Samurott."
Bianca looked back up, as Samurott brandished his sword. She recalled Mienshao and released Emboar once more.
"So it came down back to this," Hilbert said. "But still...I'm really impressed..."
"Eh...?" Bianca asked.
"You became strong enough to put me in this kind of situation," Hilbert said. "Impressive...really...only people at the level of Hilda or N could pull that off..."
"R-Really...?" Bianca asked, flustering a little.
"Yeah..." Hilbert said. "But...this situation wasn't as bad as the ones they put me through though...unfortunately for you..."
"Hilbert..." Bianca said. "Please tell me...why did you betray us...? What happened...? Why won't you tell us...?"
"Like I said...you have to win if you want to know..." Hilbert muttered.
For your sake...for Cheren's sake...for Professor Juniper's sake...for my own sake...
"Why...? Why are you so stubborn about this...!?" Bianca yelled.
"Let's just finish this already...!" Hilbert growled.
Just hate me already...and get out of here!
Samurott lunged towards Emboar, Razor Shell blade ready to slice the pig. Emboar lifted his arms in a defense, while trying to dodge his attacks. Emboar lit his hands on fire and fended off against Samurott's blade of water, the two equally locked in combat. Soon, they tired each other out, as they jumped back, having enough energy for one last attack. Samurott began to glow a jolting blue, as his blade began to grow into a giant broad sword. Emboar also began to glow a bright red, as his 'beard' of fire began to ignite tremendously.
"Torrent...and Blaze..." Hilbert muttered. "One last strike huh..."
"Hilbert..." Bianca said.
"Now's your chance to turn back," Hilbert offered, which Bianca refused.
"I won't back down! Not after I came this far!" Bianca declared.
"Is that so..." Hilbert said, smirking. "...You...you really changed, you know...you were that energetic but timid and shy girl, and now you have enough confidence to face Team Plasma head on without any regrets. But..."
Hilbert's expression changed back to a cold one.
"Emotions alone won't save you or me," he said.
"Razor Shell!"
"Flare Blitz!"
Samurott held his sword with both paws as he lifted it up. Powered by the Torrent ability, the blue blade grew to an enormous blade of water, and leaned it against his back. Powered by the Blaze ability, Emboar's fire beard ignited greatly, forming a fiery aura around him, making him look as if he was on fire. The two charged at each other and collided, the result being a huge explosion of steam and smoke blasting throughout the city. The smoke and steam rose and cleared, where everyone had fainted from the explosion. The two trainers struggled to get back up, as they looked over to check their Pokémon.
"Emboar!?" Bianca called out.
Hilbert only stared at the explosion site, where Samurott struggled to get back up, while Emboar stayed lying on the ground, unconscious.
"...It's over..." Hilbert declared.
"No...!" Bianca gasped, placing her hand over her mouth and rushing over to Emboar.
"A deal's a deal," Hilbert said as Samurott got back up. "Now go."
"B-But–," Bianca stuttered.
"GO!" Hilbert yelled. "GO BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"
From outside the battle, Lenora and Hawes were still watching the battle, managing to weather out the onslaught.
"Why is Hilbert that desperate to have Bianca leave?" Hawes asked his wife.
"I don't know..." Lenora said. "But...it definitely has to do with why he joined Team Plasma in the first place."
"How can you tell?" Hawes asked her.
"Just look at his eyes," Lenora said. "They have a singe of sadness in them."
"NO I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU AGAIN!" Bianca argued.
"We don't have time for this, you idiot!" Hilbert growled, losing his temper and becoming more anxious as the clock was ticking. "If you plan to live, then get out of here! NOW!"
"NO!" Bianca yelled.
"WHY THE HELL NOT!?" Hilbert screamed, losing his patience. "OUT WITH IT THEN! WHY BOTHER TRYING TO SAVE ME!?"
"BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS!" Bianca screamed.
Hilbert's eyes widened in genuine shock. After revealing that he had betrayed them for Team Plasma. After pummeling her in a battle and robbing her of any hope of him returning, she still considers him a friend?
"You...still think of me as a friend...?" Hilbert asked.
"Of course...!" Bianca sobbed. "We're best friends for eight years! You helped me get back Munna at Castelia! You helped convince Dad to let me go on my journey! You helped me realize what I wanna do and helped me calm Chandelure down!"
"That's..." Hilbert muttered.
"Please...Hilbert..." Bianca wailed, breaking down into tears. "I never wanted to fight you...and I don't wanna see you with Team Plasma...I just...I just want everything to go back to normal..."
"B-Bianca..." Hilbert said, shocked. "I..."
"B-Bianca...?"
"Eh?"
"-Oh shit.-"
Hilbert looked towards Samurott, who was looking to the sky with some anxiouty. He then looked towards the sky and his stomach dropped. Cheren and Hilda were above them. Cheren's eyes were widened as he stared at the two.
"Hilbert...? What did you do...?" Cheren asked in an eerily calm voice.
"I..." Hilbert stuttered, somewhat intimidated by Cheren's tone.
"Ch-Cheren...?" Bianca asked while crying.
"Why is Bianca crying...?" Cheren asked, then noticed Samurott and the defeated Emboar. "Did you fight her and make her cry...?"
"...And what of it...?" Hilbert asked carefully.
Cheren's expression contorted into one of anger, something that surprised Hilbert completely.
"You..." Cheren hissed. "You made her cry...and here I thought there was still some hope to save you left..."
"What...?" Hilbert asked.
"So because you joined Team Plasma justifies hurting your friends...?" Cheren asked. "Is that it!?"
"I didn't want to fight her, but she insisted," Hilbert shot back.
"And did you understand why she did that...?" Cheren asked.
"...Because we're still 'friends'..." Hilbert muttered.
"'Friends'...huh..." Cheren muttered. "'Friends' are those who stick together no matter what...'Friends' are those who don't turn their back on them. 'Friends' are those who don't hurt other 'friends'...'Friends'...aren't back-stabbing single-minded bastards like you!"
Hilbert just looked shocked at his childhood 'friend's anger as he reached for a pokéball.
"I don't care about why you joined Team Plasma anymore..." Cheren growled. "You hurt Bianca...you bastard...You're going to pay!"
Cheren released the Pokémon inside, which landed onto the ground. A bipedal Pokémon with a dark yellow-green covering on its back and most of the front, with large, black and red scythe like tusks loomed over Hilbert, who just instantly fell back, losing his balance and absolutely terrified of the thing in front of it.
"Th-the hell is that!?" Hilbert screamed in fear.
"-The hell!? Is that a Dragon!?-" Samurott gasped as he got in front of Hilbert to protect him.
"Haxorus, the axe jaw Pokémon," Cheren said as he dropped down to the ground. "Their sturdy tusks will stay sharp even if used to cut steel beams. These Pokémon are covered in hard armor."
Haxorus loomed over the terrified Hilbert and Samurott, looking as if it was ready to kill.
"Y'know...I managed to find this Pokémon while exploring the Mistralton Cave," Cheren explained. "It was a complete savage, but it was strong...stronger than anything I've seen in the wild...so I had to catch it...and make it my final member...I wanted to test his power."
Cheren then flashed a murderous glare at Hilbert.
"You'll make the perfect test subject," Cheren growled.
Hilbert was too terrified to make a response, being faced with his own phobia of dragons head on, forcing Samurott to make his own move as Haxorus charged at him. Samurott lifted his sword up, but lost his grip.
"-Gah!?-" Samurott winced.
He checked his arm, and found that it was burned.
"-What the–!?-" Samurott gasped, before he had to block Haxorus with his horn. "-Damn it...! That Flare Blitz must've burnt me...damn it...-"
Samurott pushed Haxorus back and tried to lift his sword, but the burn damage was too much for him to wield it.
"Cheren stop it! It's not what you think!" Bianca tried to reason.
"Not now!" Cheren yelled. "Is being a part of Team Plasma an excuse to beat her!? Well, is it Hilbert!?"
"Please...just stop..." Bianca sobbed.
Samurott glared at Cheren as he backed up, as Haxorus loomed forward.
"-That idiot,-" Samurott muttered under his breath. "-He's too wrapped up in his own emotions...he doesn't even realize what he's doing right now...The hell's Hilda doing...?-"
As if to answer him, something suddenly jumped over Haxorus, and slashed his eye.
"-GAAGH!-" Haxorus roared in pain.
Landing in front of Samurott was Bisharp, as he got into a fighting stance.
"-You got some guts, kid,-" Bisharp commented. "-You're burned, yet you still plan to wield that sword of yours. You're also not as whiny as the mole.-"
"What!?" Cheren gasped.
Suddenly, his unfezant crashed to the ground, severely charred. He looked up to the sky, where Volcarona was hissing, and Hilda was clearly furious.
"You little bastard..." Hilda growled. "Bisharp!"
Bisharp nodded in response, and lunged for Haxorus.
"Tch! Dragon Dance!" Cheren commanded.
Haxorus roared and began to charge at Bisharp in a frenzy. Bisharp tried to slash down the dragon, but Haxorus swiftly dodged it.
"Rock Smash!"
Haxorus got behind Bisharp and rammed his head at Bisharp.
"-GAUGH!?-" Bisharp gagged in pain as he flew into an empty building from the impact.
"Now then," Cheren muttered, as Haxorus faced Samurott once more.
"-Goddamn it...-" Samurott muttered. "-C'mon, Hilbert! Snap out of it!-"
Hilbert was still quaking in fear.
"-Hilbert!-" Samurott yelled, until he had to block an attack from Haxorus with his own bear paw, this time the blow was stronger than before. "-Aagh!?-"
"!? Samurott!" Hilbert managed to snap out of it as Samurott took the blow heavily.
He crashed into the stairs, as Haxorus loomed for Hilbert.
"G-Get away from me!" Hilbert screamed as he released Accelgor.
Accelgor leaped forward and launched several Focus Blasts at Haxorus, while moving Hilbert to a safer distance.
"Dragon Claw!"
As Haxorus's claws glowed light blue, Accelgor's eyes glinted as he created two blades of light blue as Haxorus's claws lengthened. Accelgor clashed his blades with Haxorus's claws, but Haxorus managed to overpower him and push him aside.
"-Tch!-" Accelgor muttered as he jumped back.
But as Haxorus rushed for them, Conkeldurr and Carracosta jumped in and tanked Haxorus's tackle, holding him back.
"-?! You guys!-" Samurott gasped.
"-Get him out of here!-" Carracosta yelled.
Accelgor obliged and got Hilbert out of there, while Samurott reluctantly evacuated the area. Haxorus jumped back, as Conkeldurr and Carracosta surrounded the dragon. Cheren was about to make another move, but he felt a blade against his neck. He looked back, and saw Shiny Samurott holding his blade at his neck.
"Put the dragon away," Hilda ordered coldly. "Or else."
Cheren glared at Hilda, but glanced back at Shiny Samurott. He was tempted to release Serperior, but suddenly Bisharp came running at Haxorus, furious.
"-You little shit!-" Bisharp howled as he smashed Haxorus in the head.
Haxorus flinched and tripped back then got back up and rammed Bisharp. Bisharp managed to stop Haxorus and slice his leg, crushing Haxorus's balance.
"What!?" Cheren gasped. "How!? With a Dragon Dance boost, Haxorus should've been able to overpower Bisharp!"
"You used Rock Smash on Bisharp, which lowered his defenses," Hilda explained as Volcarona descended to Hilbert. "That activated Bisharp's ability, 'Defiant'."
"Defiant?" Bianca asked.
"If Bisharp's stats are lowered, his attack gains a sharp boost to his attack power," Hilda explained. "You didn't calculate that, did you?"
Cheren's eyes widened as Bisharp lunged for Haxorus.
"Rock Smash!"
"Night Slash!"
Haxorus tried to ram Bisharp again, but Bisharp dodged it this time and slashed Haxorus at the neck, further crippling the dragon. As Haxorus cried in pain, Bisharp got around Haxorus, grabbed his tail, and hurled the beast across the street with his newfound strength, sending him into a lamppost.
"Focus Blast!"
To finish it off, Bisharp charged a Focus Blast and launched it as Haxorus was getting back up, nailing him directly.
"Haxorus!" Cheren cried.
The beast was completely knocked out, as Bisharp dusted his hands off. Hilbert was still quaking with fear, where Hilda decided to comfort him by hugging him from behind.
"It's alright, Hilbert," she cooed into his ears. "I'll protect you no matter what."
For once, Hilbert felt relieved to be in the hands of Hilda. Said relief was quickly extinguished as he felt Hilda' rage emanating towards Cheren and Bianca.
"You two...little whelps..." Hilda hissed as she rummaged through her pocket to reveal a small switch. "I'm going to enjoy this."
"What's that!?" Cheren demanded.
"W-Wait..." Hilbert blurted, knowing full well what that was. "L-Let's not get hasty here..."
"The bitch openly tried to hurt you," Hilda said. "And the bastard used your greatest fear against you and tried to kill you."
Hilbert tried to reach out to take the switch, but Hilda placed her hand on his to stop him. Samurott and Accelgor went over to steal it, but Hilda's Pokémon got in the way.
"-Damn it!-" Samurott muttered.
"I knew it...I knew it all along..." Hilda said. "In the end, humans are destined to betray and hurt one another...the mere thought of 'bonds' is pointless...a fabrication...a lie that hurts you."
Hilda's grip tightened on the switch.
"That's not true!" Bianca yelled.
"You two already proved my point," Hilda muttered, pointing to Bianca. "You had to get in his way and force him to fight you...You thought by beating him that he would just go back to you? Hah! Naïve little brat."
"I'm not naïve!" Bianca protested.
"Yes you are," Hilda retorted. "You claim to know Hilbert, but what do you know? The only reason why you demanded the truth is because you couldn't think of a reason why he would've betrayed us. You still see Hilbert in that pesky light of yours. You don't understand his hatred. His nightmares. His anger. You only want him to come back so your perfect little 'world' can be restored. You don't care about his own opinions."
"No! That's not–!" Bianca protested.
"Then have you ever considered asking him on what he wanted to do instead of just demanding that he go back to you?" Hilda asked.
Bianca flinched from that, and didn't respond.
"Figures," Hilda scoffed. "You claim to be doing this for his own good, but in the end, you're just doing this for your own gains."
She pointed to Cheren.
"And you, you should know that Hilbert has a phobia of Dragon-types, and yet you purposely prepared a haxorus of all things to face him with," Hilda hissed. "What's the matter? Afraid that you can't win against Hilbert unless you exploit one of his fears?"
"That's not–!" Cheren argued.
"Oh shut it, worm," Hilda interrupted him. "You were just jealous."
"What?!" Cheren gasped.
"Yes, jealous," Hilda said. "Must I spell it out for you? You were jealous of Hilbert. Jealous that you were never able to surpass him. Jealous that despite all of your planning and calculations, all that hard work, Hilbert simply bulldozed through all of that using his own tactics and strong-will. Jealous that the girl you hold precious to you is more concerned about him than you."
"Th-that's..." Cheren stuttered, unable to make a response.
"You let your envy get the best of you...you let your emotions toy with your own logic and reasoning," Hilda said. "...You truly hated Hilbert, didn't you?"
"NO!" Cheren denied. "That's not true!"
"You just screamed bloody murder for Hilbert's demise," Hilda said. "This is why I wanted Hilbert to join us sooner."
Hilda looked up to the sky as the smoke from the battle filled it.
"Us 'humans' are in the end self-centered," Hilda said. "They will only think about themselves and hurt and abandon those around them. We're pointless...we're despicable...we're revolting...but I'm different."
"How're you different!?" Cheren demanded.
"Because I never betray Hilbert," Hilda said. "I know how it feels...how to be betrayed by those close to you...so at the very least, I will be the one who stays by Hilbert's side, when he's all alone..."
Hilda glared at the two.
"And for making him suffer," Hilda said, holding the switch. "You two shall pay."
"Wait...stop..." Hilbert stuttered.
"It'll be all over soon," Hilda assured Hilbert as she closed her thumb onto the button.
"Please...wait..." Hilbert begged.
"Now..." Hilda said to Cheren and Bianca. "Die."
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!"
Hilbert desperately lunged for the switch, but he couldn't reach it. As Hilda was about to hit the button, it was snatched out of her hand.
"Wha–!?" Hilda blurted.
"-Oh? The hell's this thing?-"
They all looked to see a scrafty, somehow next to Hilda without anyone noticing, in possession of the switch.
"-What the hell?!-" Samurott blurted. "-The hell did you come from!?-"
"-Hey we came here to help,-" the scrafty muttered as he blew a bubble while examining the switch. "-Isn't that right? Accelgor?-"
"-Huh?-" Samurott asked, turning to Accelgor. "-You know him?-"
Accelgor nodded in response.
"Where did you come from?!" Hilda hissed. "Give that back!"
Volcarona roared and lunged for the scrafty, where the scrafty popped the bubble and lifted his hand. It began to glow purple and purple sparks emitted from the hand, where Scrafty smacked Volcarona as she got into range, sending the Atlas moth into a building. Scrafty only glanced at the moth, while breaking the switch in his hands.
"-Did you want something?-" Scrafty asked the bug.
They all looked shocked at Scrafty, where Cheren and Bianca suddenly felt a sudden sharp jolt in their necks.
"Ow! What the–?!" Cheren blurted.
"What was that?" Bianca asked.
"The switch!" Hilda exclaimed in anger.
"It...broke..." Hilbert whispered, before fainting.
"-Whoa! What the!? Hilbert?!-" Samurott gasped, tending to his master.
"-All the stress and anxiety must have built up within him,-" Accelgor said.
"?! Hilbert!" Hilda cried, seeing Hilbert faint.
"-You bitch...!-" Samurott growled, readying his sword, only for Accelgor to stop him. "-What the?! Why're you stopping me?!-"
Accelgor said nothing, as he glanced to the sky. Scrafty leaped over and grabbed Hilbert, who was still cradling onto the Dark Stone.
"-I got him!-" Scrafty called out to the sky.
They all looked above them, where to their shock, two Pokémon were floating above them. One was a beheeyem, scanning the perimeters, and the other was an insectoid Pokémon with a head sporting the red horsehair crest of a knight's helmet, with a visor underneath it and had two large lances for arms.
"-Good,-" Beheeyem told him. "-Shall we be on our way then Sir?-"
"What is that?!" Bianca asked, scanning the insectoid.
"Escavalier, the cavalry Pokémon," it read. "These Pokémon evolve by wearing the shell covering of a Shelmet. The steel armor protects their whole body."
Escavalier was scanning the perimeters, until he glanced at Accelgor.
"-It's been a while, Accel,-" Escavalier mused.
"-Wait...You know them?!-" Samurott asked Accelgor.
Accelgor didn't respond, as everyone else looked confused.
"What's an escavalier and a beheeyem doing here...?" Cheren asked. "They shouldn't be indigenous to the environment here?"
"...Cheren look!" Bianca pointed out, pointing to Scrafty carrying Hilbert.
"Hilbert!" Cheren cried. "Serperior! Don't let them take him away!"
Serperior was released from his pokéball and slithered to the scrafty.
"Oh no you don't!" Hilda growled. "Bisharp!"
Bisharp lunged for the Fighting-type before Serperior did. Scrafty looked bored as he chewed him gum. As Bisharp got close to him, Scrafty spat his chewed gum at Bisharp's eye, stopping him and blinding him partially.
"-What the hell?!-" Bisharp cried, trying to remove the gum.
"-Sucker,-" Scrafty snickered as he drove his knee into Bisharp's gut.
Bisharp gagged from the pain, and fell, unable to recover from the blow. Serperior readied a Leaf Blade and pounced Scrafty. Scrafty in return, grabbed Bisharp by the leg and hurled him into the snake.
"-Gah!?-" Serperior cried as the Steel-type nailed him in the gut.
Scrafty simply snickered as the two fell. As Serperior struggled to get up due to the weight of Bisharp, Scrafty loomed over him, readying a purple fist.
"-Like I'll let either of you losers touch our boy here,-" Scrafty taunted before jabbing Serperior with what seemed to be a Poison Jab.
"Serperior!" Cheren cried as his partner fell. "Damn it! Everyone!"
He released all of his remaining Pokémon: Unfezant, Liepard, Gigalith and Jellicent, to retrieve Hilbert from the unknown Pokémon.
"Hydro Pump!"
Carracosta shot a Hydro Pump at Scrafty from behind, but it stopped in midair.
"-What?!-" Carracosta gasped.
The water floated up into the air, recompressed into a large ball, close to Beheeyem, who had his arm up and was emitting Psychic energy. Beheeyem then redirected the Hydro Pump and blasted it at Gigalith, who didn't see the attack coming.
"-GUOOGH!?-" Gigalith screamed in pain.
As the Rock behemoth tried to recover from the blast, Beheeyem shot an Energy Ball at him, ending him swiftly. Beheeyem then glanced to the side and projected a barrier of energy, blocking an incoming blade of air. Unfezant came charging at Beheeyem, but the alien simply teleported out of his vision.
"-Where did he–?!-"
Unfezant frantically looked around to see where the enemy went. He realized something and looked above him. Beheeyem was already above him and blasted him with a torrent of electricity.
"-AAAAAH!?-" Unfezant cried in pain.
"-Goodnight,-" Beheeyem said as he deployed several psychic projectiles that surrounded Unfezant as he fell and released them, all of them pelting the bird and pummeling him to the ground. Escavalier floated down, glaring at the opposition.
"You obstacles!" Hilda yelled as Shiny Samurott and Conkeldurr leaped over to challenge the Bug knight.
Conkeldurr was closer so he managed to lunge his concrete pillars at the knight. Escavalier saw this coming, dodged it, and smacked him in the face with his lance. As Conkeldurr flinched from the lance, Escavalier smashed his helmet into Conkeldurr, sending him flying.
"-The hell?!-" Samurott gasped as he saw the giant Fighting-type fly into the air.
Shiny Samurott brandished his sword and assaulted Escavalier. Escavalier glanced at the Water-type, charged his lance with enough energy for it to extend into a long lance, and slashed the sword, breaking it in half.
"-What?!-" Shiny Samurott gasped as he looked at his broken sword.
Escavalier then proceeded to stab Shiny Samurott with the lance, sending him into a tree which toppled over from the force.
"Samurott!" Hilda cried as Shiny Samurott fell, defeated.
Escavalier only leered at Shiny Samurott, then glanced over to Jellicent, who had already shot a Hydro Pump at him. Escavalier readied his lance and swiped it at the incoming Hydro Pump. The force was enough to erase the Hydro Pump.
"-Impossible!-" Jellicent gasped.
"Damn it, Shadow Ball!" Cheren screamed.
Jellicent charged a Shadow Ball and launched it at Escavalier. Escavalier was about to deal with the Shadow Ball, but Scrafty jumped in front of him.
"-I got this!-" Scrafty arrogantly boomed as he readied his hand, a black spark emitting from it. "-Payback, loser!-"
Scrafty slapped the Shadow Ball with his hand, the deflected Shadow Ball charging at Jellicent even faster than when Jellicent launched it, surprising the jellyfish.
"-Wha–?!-" Jellicent gasped, before getting nailed by the Shadow Ball with no time to react.
"Jellicent!" Cheren cried as Jellicent fainted from the blow.
"-Keh! These guys are complete pushovers!-" Scrafty scoffed.
"-Now, now,-" Beheeyem said. "-Do not underestimate them.-"
"-Please, not one of them were able to aly a finger on us,-" Scrafty scoffed.
"-Then how about a sword up your throat!?-"
Scrafty looked over to see Samurott with his sword brandished to kill.
"-Let go of Hilbert!-" Samurott roared as he lunged the sword.
"-Holy shit!-" Scrafty blurted as he ducked to avoid the attack.
As Samurott was about to continue his assault, Accelgor shot one of his appendages at Samurott and restrained him.
"-The hell?!-" Samurott gasped. "-What the bloody hell are you doing?!-"
"-Calm down!-" Accelgor yelled.
"-What do you mean 'calm down'?!-" Samurott screamed. "-Those bastards have Hilbert!-"
"-I'm telling you to calm down!-" Accelgor yelled, activating Giga Drain on Samurott.
"-Gaugh?!-" Samurott gagged, feeling the pain from the Grass-type move.
"-They're not the enemy!-" Accelgor yelled.
"-What?! How?!-" Samurott yelled. "-They're here to abduct our trainer!-"
"-If I may,-" Beheeyem intervened. "-We've been ordered to retrieve Hilbert from further mental stress and or damage that may and is possibly irreversible.-"
"-By who?!-" Samurott demanded, pointing his sword at the Psychic-type.
"-By our mistress,-" Escavalier said, his tone overtaking Samurott's tone.
As the Pokémon argued, the humans were left in dust, unable to understand the situation.
"Wh-what're they talking about?" Bianca asked Cheren.
"How should I know?" Cheren responded.
From the museum, Lenora and Hawes finally emerged once more, having defeated the remainder of the grunts accompanying Hilbert.
"What happened?!" Hawes asked.
"I don't know," Lenora said.
"You guys!"
Cheren and Bianca looked up to see Alder, riding his braviary.
"Alder!" Cheren gasped.
Behind him, was all the other Elite Four, riding Shauntal's Golurk as they all landed into the scene.
"What happened?!" Alder demanded. "Where's Hilbert?!"
"He's over there, but..." Bianca said.
They all looked and were shocked at the sight of what they saw. Hilda, who they were having trouble fighting a while ago, was completely beaten, all of her Pokémon were out and defeated, unable to fight any further. What shocked them even more, was that Hilbert, the boy they were after, was out cold, his samurott restrained by a scar-littered accelgor. Three new Pokémon were in the middle of the whole situation, the scrafty still carrying Hilbert over his shoulder.
"Wait...is that...?" Marshal asked.
Escavalier, Beheeyem and Scrafty looked over to the members of the Pokémon League.
"-Well, well, well,-" Scrafty said. "-Look what the purloin dragged in.-"
"Those Pokémon..." Alder said. "Perhaps...?"
Caitlin looked around the premises, scanning the area.
"What? Perhaps what?" Bianca asked.
"Do you know them?" Cheren asked.
"Yes, we're familiar with them," Marshal said.
"It's been a while since we saw these guys," Grimsley mused.
"Does that mean–?!" Shauntal asked, excited for some reason.
"Yes, she's here," Caitlin said, pointing to an alleyway.
"...Apparently so! It's no use hiding!" Alder boomed. "Come out already!"
There was no response, but shortly, a robed woman emerged from the alleyway.
"-Mistress!-" Beheeyem and Escavalier exclaimed.
The two rushed over to the woman, as Scrafty walked over calmly, still carrying Hilbert.
"-So you're the mastermind, eh?!-" Samurott growled.
"What's with the get up?" Alder chuckled. "It's been eight years! Surely you can lose the robe."
"...You're still the jovial old man, aren't you, Alder?" the woman sighed.
"Who's she?" Bianca asked.
"You three should know her, since you're both Hilbert's friends," Alder hinted.
"Huh?"
The woman removed her hood, revealing a woman with brown hair, tied in a wavy ponytail, leering at them with sharp blue eyes. The two young trainers were speechless, their mouths agape with shock.
"And I don't appreciate you two trying to hurt my son," the woman stated coldly. "Especially if you two are supposed to be his 'friends'."
"Cold and critical as always, eh Fiona?" Alder asked.
To be continued
AN: And Hilbert's mom has a name. I based her on the concept that in-game, your mother was once a trainer, and then expanded it further and added her into the plot. I hope you guys found the Hilbert vs Bianca fight enjoyable, and Cheren finally snaps and unleashes a haxorus upon him, which angers Hilda to the point of completely thrashing him in a curb stomp battle upon his team and almost killing him and Bianca, which finally leads to Hilbert losing it mentally and falls unconscious. Man it sucks to be Hilbert, doesn't it? Anyways, next chapter, we finally explore the depths of Hilbert's parentage!
And I hope you enjoyed the chapter and look forward to the next chapter. See ya!