Continuing further with the climax! I tried to put in all the characters I could, but sadly some always slip through the cracks in these big scenes. Still, I hope it's enjoyable. Chapter 25 time!
Chapter 25
A Song
Ash's eyes were wide with horror. He could feel Serena's fingernails gripping into his biceps. Every single one of their envoy was staring at the sky, stopped in their movement. It felt like it was a single light, bisecting the entire world, heralding the merging of worlds or something like that. He was never the smartest when it came to understanding that stuff, but he did know one thing: the situation was about to get a lot worse.
"They're all over…" Serena whispered. Ash reached up, putting a hand on hers, giving her the encouragement that, perhaps, she didn't need. Nevertheless, he gave it to her. Pikachu's cheeks sparked angrily. He wasn't the only one reacting negatively to what was going on. Greninja seemed to have some issues, as well, along with Kiawe's Charizard. In the short distance ahead of them, Pipi also looked on edge. Ash's eyes kept widening at the thought that was now assailing his head, bringing him back to that one battle. If but a single Ultra Beast had caused a stampede through Heahea City…what would an army of them do?
"This is not good," Gladion spat out. They had hoped to get to the altar before all this, Ash realized with a twitching lip, but it was clear they had grossly miscalculated. Though the fact that Lusamine didn't seem to cotton on to their plan until it was far too late was a boon in and of itself, something that Ash was highly grateful for. Not that it mattered in the heat of the moment.
In the night sky, that inky blackness was splitting apart, opening with such loud and shuddering cracks, it was as though the entire world was being beaten with a whip by the presence of this other place. The air itself was quivering, like it was breaking down from the mere existence of the wormholes that were there. It was, quite honestly, one of the most frightening experiences that Ash had ever had. Perhaps he was holding Serena's hand more for himself than her. She squeezed back, indicating that she had him covered.
The wormholes, now dotting so many spaces over Alola, including the sky over the altar, were starting to squirm in the creepiest of fashions, something beginning to stir deep within them…no, multiple somethings. Latias shuddered underneath him, even her immense strength making her fearful of the things coming through the portal. For that second, each of their altar assault party was gripped with fear; fear that they had failed. Then, the first group of assailants came floating out of the portals.
"A Nihilego!" Lillie gasped out, pointing towards the group of Pokémon that seemed to be leading the Ultra Beasts, each one floating out with a menacing aura. It was certainly more than familiar to Ash, its creepy tentacles swaying back and forth as it approached, silently stalking forward. There was more than one and, indeed, more than just that particular species now littering the skies over Alola, each looking odd and deadly at the same time. Ash's body was now giving an involuntary shudder, one that he couldn't control.
"Gah…" he suddenly gasped, feeling his brain going hazy. He knew he wasn't alone, not from the way Serena was grabbing at him, trying to get him to turn around towards her. He wanted to, as well. The switch in his brain that was telling him this wasn't the time for stuff like that was flipping off completely. "Se…rena…"
"Ash…" she gasped out, like she was trying to keep control over her own mind.
"Snap…out of it…" Gladion said, gripping at his own head. Kiawe was starting to stand on his Charizard, and it looked like Meowth's claws were extending, advancing on Wobbuffet while Jessie grabbed James by the collar, pushing a hand against the balloon. Ash couldn't stop himself, and the Ultra Beasts slowly floated forward, as though they were easy prey that would do little but destroy themselves on their own whims, not needing any interference. Ash was now looking at Serena, but he didn't really see her there. She was just some sort of object of desire now, not an actual person.
"Pikapi!" Ash felt himself slapped across the face by Pikachu's tail. He blinked, realizing Serena was there, and that his hand was on her bare shoulder, having never realized he'd even placed it there, or moved her shirt down whatsoever.
"The…toxins…" Serena practically panted out, as lewd as it suddenly seemed to Ash. She was trailing her hands down his arms and Ash blinked. Of course! They had all been warned about it, and yet…
"Latias!" Ash yelled desperately, plunging into his pocket and pulling out the flute, his father's keystone now sitting there and glistening. He had never done it before, but there was no time like the present. "Mega Evolve!"
"Kuuuuu!" Latias cried and even as Ash and the others rested upon her, the Latiasite reacted. It was such a surprising rush, that Ash wasn't sure if he could even control it. However, she turned her head to him, nodding, like she was reassuring him that everything was okay. The bond that the two of them held to his father would be more than enough. Her body began to change, wings shortening and claws elongating. Ash pitched forward, gripping at her neck while Serena seemed to snap out of the fog in her mind, as well, holding fast to him.
"Everything better now?" he asked with a slight chuckle. Serena was shaking her head, looking rather embarrassed at their almost public display. Clearly, the lack of inhibitions affecting their hormones was not something she'd be forgetting anytime soon.
"Still feels a bit foggy…did we really just…?"
"Let's not think about it. Latias, Dragon Breath!" Ash called out. Latias' body finished transforming into her Mega Evolved form, rearing back. Zygarde, still holding tight to Clemont and Bonnie, moved out of the way as the green flame shot out from Latias' mouth. Despite the force that traveled forwards, Latias didn't move at all, though Ash had to hold on to his hat. The green flames rocketed forward and made contact with the first of the Nihilego. It didn't stop there, bursting through all of them and exploding into green embers.
"Uh…what am I doing?" Kiawe asked, stopping his dancing atop his companion. Gladion shook his head and pulled the captain straight down.
"Making an utter fool of yourself," the blond snapped. "Everyone better now?"
"I feel like I've been swimming…wait, where did all my malasadas go? I was saving them in case we needed to refuel!" Hau exclaimed from Team Rocket's balloon, each of them recovering, as well, with Wobbuffet hugging Jessie, who was on top of James as Meowth attacked all three of them. Lillie was the only one that seemed okay, though her hand was on Hau's chest.
Ash decided to stop paying attention to all of that and looked to the writhing Nihilego, dropping towards the ground. He patted Latias, grateful to have her assistance in the battle. He couldn't believe that he'd forgotten about the neurotoxin. Adjusting his hat on his head, he pointed forward again. "This is it! Any Nihilego you see, get rid of it! Right now, we have one goal: get to that altar!"
We are on it! Extreme Speed! Zygarde cried out, using far different vernacular than Ash was used to. Not that he let it distract him. Zygarde was wreathed in a bright white light, and fired off, Clemont and Bonnie screaming with it (and neither in the same way). Kiawe's Charizard roared loudly.
"Those creatures…they won't get the best of me again! Charizard, let's destroy those who would defile these islands!" Kiawe snapped his reins and Charizard rushed in, wings glowing a bright white. Gladion was clearly shouting at him to focus on the Nihilego.
"We should, too! Got that, Team Rocket?" Ash yelled out. The trio stopped whatever they were doing and saluted. Meowth scrambled for his own remote-control button, pressing upon it as rockets appeared from their balloon.
"Hold on, guys! We gonna get dere real quick! Rockets, activated!" That was no lie, as Meowth once more pressed the button and the rockets blasted the balloon forward at high speed. Wobbuffet took point proudly, while most of Jessie and James' Pokémon remained at the sides, like a vanguard with the purpose of reflecting attacks. Ash watched them all go, and Serena patted his shoulder, much sweeter than she had been mere moments ago.
"Let's go! Giga Impact! Aim for any Nihilego and make us a path!" Ash called. Latias cried out as Pikachu hopped into Ash's arms. Then her body became surrounded with swirling purple and yellow light. The light remained there, stationary, for just a moment. Then she fired through, traveling even faster than all those which had gone ahead of them. An Ultra Beast, looking like a strange kind of cannon, moved to block their path, but nothing would stop them. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
"Nin-ja!" Greninja yelled, remaining firmly stuck in place as he gripped his watery blades, from his sides, and tossed them at the Ultra Beast. It forced it to stagger, and Latias slammed into it. She didn't stop, continuing through the gathering army of Ultra Beasts, especially the ones that seemed to all be streaming after Clemont and Lillie. Actually, Ash noticed that those two were where most of the creatures were going. Ash had a fairly solid idea of why. It suddenly became imperative for them to catch up.
"Serena, can Primarina remain in the air for a while with Aqua Jet?" Ash asked of his girlfriend. She seemed to raise her eyebrows, but quickly got the whole idea and she grabbed for a pokeball. Ash did, too, and they tossed them upwards together. Toucannon and Primarina emerged in the air, Serena's Pokémon instantly getting the idea to use her Aqua Jet due to her position. "All right, help us break through! Hyper Voice!"
"Toucaaaaaah!" Toucannon screeched out, sending the red soundwaves out. The beasts pursuing Clemont and the others halted, thankfully affected by the dangerous soundwaves. That mere moment of pause was enough for Latias to catch up rapidly, zooming past and through them with her Giga Impact. It took a moment, but the shockwave from the attack soon rippled through the Ultra Beasts behind them and caused them to drop, spiraling towards the ground and sea below. The light around Latias faded, though she still kept up her speed and stamina.
"I can see the altar! We're almost there, Squishy!" Bonnie yelled out. Ash peered forward, realizing that she was right. Of course, what Bonnie failed to recognize (though Ash and some of the others did), were the intense sounds of battle that were coming from within the site of the shield that surrounded the Altar of the Sunne. More than that, countless Ultra Beasts were swarming, attacking the helicopters that were stationed overhead.
"Everyone, stay focused!" Gladion yelled out, his Honchkrow keeping close. The blond pointed forward, and Honchkrow nodded, sending a Dark Pulse out towards one of the flitting Ultra Beasts that was running on the air, in order to get its attention. Not that it needed the help, since some of the beasts pouring from the portals in the air were turning towards Clemont and Lillie.
"Clemont! Lillie! You guys need to stick closer to us!" Ash yelled out. "They want to stop us from reaching the altar, and taking both Cosmog and Nebby is the way to do that! Latias, Psyshock! Toucannon, Flame Charge!"
"We're on it, Ash! Vikavolt, Spark!" The flying Pokémon all acted right away, joined by Pipi, who was sending a Thunderbolt raging outward for the cluster of beasts making their way towards them. The attacks slammed upon a singular beast, managing to hit it and fell it with sparks in the air. However, there were a lot more than that left.
"I don't think we'll be able to get in, twerp!" Jessie shouted out, looking quite ticked off. "You twerps are the brilliant ones, so come up with a strategy-hey! No! Get away! Gourgeist, Leech Seed!"
"Primarina, go!" Serena yelled, her free hand flying out. Gourgeist fired her seeds, entangling one of the large, red-colored beasts, just before Primarina slammed into it with Aqua Jet and landed on the balloon to regain her balance.
"They just won't end, man!" Hau complained a little. "How the heck are we gonna get through all of them before they destroy us? Ah! Pipi, protect the balloon! Use Electric Terrain!"
"Rairairai!" Pipi called up, soaring out towards one of the beasts looking to hit the large Meowth balloon, electric energy charging the air around them, something Pikachu and Vikavolt seemed to appreciate. Not that it cleared away the glut of enemies that was blocking their progress.
Kauuuuuuu! Ash watched as Tapu Koko suddenly came flying through, purple streaks of lightning traveling out from its body. It zipped through, hitting each of the Ultra Beasts one by one, with more speed than even Latias had been showing. Her own Psyshock landed on some of the stragglers directly in front. No matter the attack that had done it, those beasts began to fall, flickering in and out like their brethren before, but there were definitely plenty more where they'd come from.
"Ash, no matter what we do, there are still too many in the way," Serena told him seriously. He frowned, knowing she was right. The Tapus were all acting, but there were only four of them, and only Tapu Koko seemed to be covering their own quadrant. As strong as it was, the amount of portals and Ultra Beasts that had appeared were far more than Ash had imagined. More, even, than any of them had imagined, for that matter.
"The whole Ultra Space has probably emptied," Clemont noted. "I'm also starting to suspect that since they fade upon defeat, they simply get brought back to it and revived to return to the fight."
"Then we'll keep fighting without making progress? !" Lillie asked. One of the beasts flitting through the air drew close and Komala swung around with a green-colored chunk of wood to knock it away, on Lillie's order. "We just need to make a push to break through!"
"Allow us!" Ash snapped his gaze up as he noticed an all too familiar face floating down, tinged with blue, gracefully approaching. Next to her was her Pokémon, the stunning Gardevoir. Ash grinned at the appearance of Diantha, and even more than that, that all of the Champions seemed to be there but Alder (which made sense when Ash realized Bouffalant was hardly suited for air battling). "We Champions have been planning for this moment!"
"We'll carve you a path!" Steven called, taking out his stickpin. He and Diantha grinned at each other, touching to their keystones and their Pokémon began to transform. Neither Cynthia nor Lance bothered with that, but both of them wore the looks of confidence that said they didn't need Mega Evolution.
"Go, Ash! Garchomp, Dragon Rush!" Cynthia ordered, leaping off her Pokémon and being supported by Gardevoir's Psychic. It took immense control to leave them all floating there while also charging a Moonblast.
"We've got it! Latias, we're heading down!" Ash called out, pointing down towards the altar. Even a simple glimpse told him just how packed with their enemy the path was, but he wasn't about to run away. Nor, it seemed, were the others.
"Begin Rocket landing process!" Jessie and James yelled. Meowth and Wobbuffet worked together in seconds, and the balloon began to plummet, forcing them all to hold on. It moved so quickly that Ash noticed the Ultra Beasts were hardly reacting to their group, despite Nebby's presence, until they were well past. The only issue was how far off their intended landing site was from the actual top of the altar. Other than that, even from his height, Ash could see some of the combatants down below (looking like Dawn, Brock and Aria) moving to intercept them.
"You heard 'em, Squishy! Dragon Pulse and take us down!" Bonnie shouted, punching forward from her hold. One of the Ultra Beasts, the cutting one, wheeled right for them at her call. It didn't make it very far before Metagross' Flash Cannon impacted with it, slamming it into a stone face of Poni Island.
"Dragonite, Hyper Beam!" Lance roared from atop his Pokémon. "You four, stop dawdling! You have somewhere you need to be right now!"
"Right, sorry! Latias, Mist Ball, and let's go!" Ash called out. Toucannon flapped close, planning to dive right along with Latias. Serena held a hand out, sending out a beam from her pokeball to return Primarina (who'd used another Aqua Jet into the air) before she could tire herself out. "Greninja, run support with Water Shuriken!"
"Charizard, you know what to do!" Kiawe yelled to his Pokémon. Both pairs drew even, Ash reaching over to bump fists with both Gladion and Kiawe, before their rides angled downward and shot forward to join with Zygarde in the mess of enemies. Just as they started to descend, there was an explosion. Ash looked back, seeing the four Champions back to back, their vicious attacks holding off the Ultra Beasts, all while being aided by Tapu Koko from the edges; the guardian deity was swiftly shocking some more Nihilego that were emerging from the portals.
Latias and Charizard opened their maws, just as they came even with Zygarde. All three began forming their powerful attacks and sent them straight downwards. One of the Ultra Beasts, the one that looked like a strange cannon of sorts, moved to intercept it, firing off its own Flash Cannon, though eerie in color. It slammed into the Flamethrower, cutting through it and forcing Kiawe and Gladion to roll to the side in order to avoid the strike. The Mist Ball and Dragon Pulse hit the target, though, colliding with it and sending it crashing straight through its comrades with little remorse.
"Toucannon, use Flame Charge, pick up speed!" Ash ordered as they continued to shoot forward. Charizard returned to them, though it wasn't thinning the ranks standing between them and the altar, at any rate. In fact, just about the only thing different now was that they could actually see the altar and some of its details, rather than just a mess of Ultra Beasts.
Bzzzzzzzz! The horrible buzzing sound alerted Ash to the red Ultra Beasts coming in a pincer attack from the sides. They weren't as fast as some of their counterparts, but the sheer aura of power coming from them was enough to convince Ash of the threat that they were.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
"Chespie, Toxic!" A mighty roar split the air, but Latias didn't stop moving. Kiawe turned in the direction of the incoming Charizard, his eyes widening with a rather impressed look. Alain's Charizard, Mega Evolved with his usual blue flames, came rocketing forward, gushing blue flames into the buzzing beast before them. At the same time, from astride its back, Chespie fired off purple streams of liquid that hit one on the other side. "Keep moving, Serena! We'll take care of things here!"
"Thanks!" Ash yelled. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Combine it with Psyshock!" Pikachu sparked, the electricity brimming around his body while he leapt to Latias' head. Then he sent the lightning out, while Latias sent the purple streaks. The attacks combined together and slammed into another one of the cannons.
"Nihilego, straight ahead!" Gladion snapped loudly. Ash's gaze narrowed, teeth gritting as he saw the beasts with tentacles floating up like ethereal jellyfish. Deadly jellyfish…Ash reasoned. Gladion's Honchkrow flew straight at it while Zygarde began to pick up speed. Vikavolt joined in, firing a beam of charged electricity right into the pack of Nihilego. It wasn't enough, and Ash could already start feeling his mind slipping away into the haze. One of the Nihilego fired off the destructive red Power Gem beams that Ash had faced in Heahea. They struck both Vikavolt and Honchkrow. While the former shook it off, Honchkrow took it poorly, and Gladion recalled him.
Another one fired off the same kind of attack, aiming it once more for Vikavolt, and Charizard, as well. Ash patted Latias, indicating for her to strike with a Dragon Breath. She opened her mouth and sent the green flames roaring out. It intercepted the attack aiming for Charizard, allowing it and its passengers to pass through safely. The same wasn't said for Vikavolt, forcing Zygarde to shoot forward, nailed into one of its wings by the attack meant for the Stag Beetle Pokémon. It began to spiral, glowing green, while Ryuki came screaming in on his Dragonite to finish the job, albeit not doing much. Regardless, he disappeared into another area of the sky right after, but Ash was more focused on the now falling Zygarde and his friends.
"VIKA!" Vikavolt screamed, shooting at almost supersonic speed to catch his trainer, as Clemont and Bonnie once more began to fall. Ash tried to give an order, but his head was just so foggy.
"Psychic, Alakazam!" Ash recognized that voice. Knew it all too well, but couldn't place it with the fog. Then there was a loud, unearthly screeching and the fog cleared. He looked up to see Seamus floating with his Mega Alakazam, whirling the Nihilego around and sending them crashing downwards, where it seemed Sawyer was waiting with a Leaf Storm from his Mega Sceptile that exploded upon the beasts. "We'll take care of any more of those things. The battle's just as hectic on the ground, so save some of your strength!"
"R-right," Ash gasped out, shaking his head to fully remove the fog from his mind. He finally remembered what had happened, and he looked down to see Clemont and Bonnie falling, the green lights flying away from Zygarde as it turned back into the two exhausted forms of Squishy and Bluey. Bonnie caught them just before Clemont pushed her. She landed right on top of Vikavolt, but Clemont continued to plummet.
"Clemont! Rotom, go get him!" Bonnie screamed out. Rotom gave no hesitation, letting go of his Vikavolt transportation, finally, to zip through the air and stretch its stubby arms to grab Clemont's own arm. It halted the fall for maybe all of a second before Rotom was dragged down with him.
"Latias, let's go! We have to reach them!" Ash yelled to the Eon Pokémon. She cried out and shot downward, right for the floor that his friends had battled on, near the foot of the stairs to the Altar of the Sunne, before. He urged her on silently. She was the best shot of saving Clemont. Hurry…please…Clemont!
Kuweeeee! Ash grimaced. He looked back to Greninja, who ran a little along Latias and leapt off, grabbing his shuriken and tossing them forward at the wheeling blades. Toucannon joined in, shooting towards it with fire. Greninja also angled towards it and leapt upwards once his shuriken had hit, calling his white blade forth. They both struck on the Ultra Beast.
"Clemont!" Serena screamed, hoping they could reach their friend in time. Only it didn't look like they'd be able to. Ash reached forward, as if hoping to grab him from that distance. A shadow flitted through the air, suddenly vanishing in the night sky, before it grabbed hold of Clemont and swirled on to the ground, materializing as the very familiar form of Lionel's Mega Evolved Banette. The man nodded up at them from below, as Clemont caught his breath near the foot of the stairs. With him there was Gary, checking over to make sure he was okay as Electivire sent a Thunder through the air. The blond inventor looked up.
"You all go towards the altar as quickly as you can," he yelled up. "I'll join with Lillie and Hau and meet you there!"
"Sounds good! Greninja, stick with him!" Ash yelled to his faithful Pokémon. Greninja nodded, flipping downwards through the remaining distance to the ground, and landing nimbly near Clemont's side. In seconds, Meyer was running up to help defend his son with his Blaziken, May right alongside him. Ash looked around, trying to find where Lillie could possibly be at that moment when Serena pointed out, locating her. She, Team Rocket and Hau were pushing through some rather speedy moving Ultra Beasts that Ash could barely get a look at. They had closed ranks while Dawn attempted to hold them off from behind. In fact, that seemed to be the strategy of the day, with many others like Misty and Brock joining in with that very plan: the advance party moving forward while the others held off all of the Ultra Beasts.
The only problem was the moving forward part. Even with Hau's Incineroar now out on the field, combining explosive attacks with Pipi, the ultra-quick beast was avoiding everything he had to throw at it; it was a real testament to its speed. Lillie looked to be scanning everything, when she seemed to notice something that Ash saw as well: a troupe of Oricorio were moving towards them, alongside a Mega Evolved Absol and a Rhyperior.
"They'll be fine," Ash insisted to Serena, as Latias continued rocketing downwards. "Maka's there with them."
"And she'll do anything for that epic shot," Serena laughed out. Sure enough, the second he had looked back, Maka's film crew had trapped the troublesome Ultra Beast, yelling something about a supporting cast as Lillie's group moved on. Seeing Absol and Rhyperior attack the trapped group only clinched Ash's faith. Knowing they would be fine, Ash turned his attention back towards their incoming destination.
Zizizizizizee! The new cry, unfamiliar from all of the other beasts that had attacked so far, pricked Ash's ears. But it affected none more so than Pikachu, who seemed to sense where the beast was, looking in its direction. Ash snapped his gaze to it, noticing that it was gangly and looking like it was made of electrical wires, indicated most sharply by the shining star at the top of its head that flickered with electricity. It also screamed to be beyond dangerous from its palpable aura.
"Evade, quickly!" Ash yelled out. Latias rolled to the side as the creature that was on the stairs suddenly sparked violently. The electricity, eerie in color, like an off-yellow or off-white, showered upwards, leaving them almost nowhere to run. Ash grit his teeth while even Pikachu seemed to suffer under the electricity. Latias and Charizard were battered by the shocks, each falling uncontrollably towards the stairs, now. The longer the attack continued, the weaker they felt.
"Stone Edge, Torterra! Then use Frenzy Plant and catch them." Pikachu looked back at Ash, who started to grin. They weren't finished from this beast yet. Stones flew out in a sharp and jagged fashion, cutting into the electric Ultra Beast and stopping its attack. Then the roots came ripping out of the stairs. Ash patted Latias.
"Take it from here," he whispered. She cooed, and Ash grabbed Serena and Pikachu, before leaping off of Latias. He wasn't alone, as Gladion had jumped off of Charizard, aiming for the flailing roots. Both boys caught hold of them and slid down, their feet hitting the stairs. "Thanks, Paul. Leave the rest to us."
"Yeah, whatever. Standby for battle," Paul smirked out as he sent another pokeball out in the form of Electivire. Said Pokémon slammed down on the Ultra Beast with a Brick Break, allowing the trio to run fiercely up the stairs. Serena and Gladion both called their own top Pokémon out, now, with Silvally snarling viciously. Kiawe and Charizard had taken off.
The ground began shuddering, pitching each of them forward. They caught on to each other, Gladion's knees hitting the steps. Ash looked back, seeing that Clemont and Rotom had, indeed, caught up with Lillie and the others at the base of the stairs. Bonnie had landed there, too, with Vikavolt having obviously followed his trainer, in order to land safely. Korrina and Lucario looked to be protecting their landing, too. But what caught Ash's attention most of all was…
"It's eroding…" Serena breathed out, a sense of frightened awe in her voice. That was the easiest way to describe it. Chunks of the canyon walls were breaking apart, disintegrating into dust, as was the altar, itself. Overhead, the Ultra Wormholes were pulsing and thrumming, with each and every pulse through the air, another piece of their world seemed to disappear.
"They really are trying to destroy our world," Gladion noted. "This many wormholes must have done something to reality, and now it's trying to tear itself apart, assimilate itself into the Ultra Space. Exactly what my mother wants, so she can create her perfect illusion."
"We won't let it!"
"Pika Pikachau!" Pikachu cried vehemently. Ash reached both of his hands out, leading for Serena and Gladion, both, to take them as he pulled them up. Then he stepped forward.
"It doesn't matter if the path is crumbling ahead!" he shouted. A chunk of stone seemed to fall right in their path, and he leapt over it, the others being carried with him. "It doesn't matter what's in the way! The only way you make your world happen is by working together and striving for it! If we all know who we are and our parts to play, nothing is impossible!"
Guzzuzzuzzuzz! The deep growling interrupted him, but Ash wasn't about to stop. From above dropped a rather large and bulky Ultra Beast with a giant mouth. It was black all over, and from its mouth were two tendrils with claws on the end, snapping viciously.
"Out of our way!" Ash screamed, stopping a moment as he crossed his fists. He wasn't alone, Gladion and Serena doing the same right next to him. Their Z-Rings resonated and shone brightly. "This is our world! Get out! Pikachu, Breakneck Blitz!"
"Corkscrew Crash!"
"Inferno Overdrive!" The three moved in perfect harmony with each other, their arms uncrossing and beginning the movements for their Z-Moves. All three of their Pokémon burned with Z-Power, acting together, like a team. A month ago, it would have been near inconceivable, yet now…Pikachu's blast of cutting speed drove outwards, while Silvally charged straight towards the beast as a spinning drill and Braixen fired out a fireball so large that it exploded against the creature. Ash's eyes narrowed, hearing the pained cries of the creature, before it was followed by laughter. The beast was taunting them.
"Foul Play." The command was unexpected, as was the Persian that leapt forward to grab ahold of the Ultra Beast and bring it slamming down on to the stairs. Ash didn't bother waiting for the man that he knew had arrived, starting to run up the final stretch of the stairs to the altar. At the top, he could see some other familiar faces…or at least mannerisms. Serena had no problem calling the man out.
"Nanu, weren't you supposed to be at Po Town?" she called back. Ash looked back for just a second, but he could easily see the feral grin that was stretching the Kahuna's face. The man's eyes were lit with the fire of battle; one that needed no answer or explanation. He was a man here to battle, and nothing more. In fact, he didn't even address Serena's question, but just the monster before him.
"Come at me, beast. Give me a fight! One that I can remember for whatever years I have left!" Nanu smirked out and Persian leapt at it, delivering a brutal Dark Pulse right to the beast's face. It staggered, almost teetering over the edge. Ash and Gladion both chuckled, but continued running with Serena right next to them. The haze was coming forward again, more Nihilego no doubt encroaching upon their space. However, Ash kept running forward, determined to not stop and battle or anything else. After all, that was what their final line of defense was for in the first place.
"All right, boys! The others are helping out elsewhere, but we're gonna make sure they rescue the boss!" Plumeria was shouting, right at the top of the stairs. Ash led the charge forward, noticing that the others were gaining ground on them, nearing Nanu's titanic battle with the giant beast below, pieces of the stairs blown apart as a Power Gem cut straight down the Ultra Beast's middle. The raven-haired trainer didn't stop, and his foot hit the top step, running past Plumeria as the Skull grunts ringing the stage and tag teaming the Nihilego cheered. Her words reached him. "Keep your promise…bring him back to us."
"Of course," Ash spoke, and he continued his sprint towards the center of the altar, where he skidded to a stop and faced the stairs once more. The others were almost there, though the Nihilego were starting to encroach upon their space yet again. Their particular trio was far removed enough to be perfectly fine, but he wasn't sure he could say the same for Clemont and his own advancing group.
"Boys, get moving!" Plumeria shouted out to her group of Team Skull. "No one tackle a single beast in less than groups of three. Coordinate your attacks!"
"We on it, Big Sis! Cannonball, Gumshoos!" three of the grunts yelled together. Ash just watched with quirked eyebrows, as they all leapt off the edge of the altar with their partner Pokémon, slamming right on top of one of the Nihilego and sending it falling downward. The grunts rolled off, landing on the stairs and looking fine. It was a good distraction.
"How are they not affected by the toxin?" Serena almost laughed out, finding the whole thing rather humorous, clearly. More of the Skull grunts moved close to the edge, and one turned back with a grin.
"Yo, we ain't affected, cuz we totally already act without any inebriations."
"Bro, that's totally not the word!" said a female thug next to him. He looked at her in surprise, making Gladion facepalm. "It's like, inhalations or somethin'!"
"It's called get your asses moving! That goes for you twerps as well!"
"For the last time, that name is copyrighted by us!" Jessie yelled at the Team Skull Admin. Plumeria just rolled her eyes without caring at all. Team Rocket, as a whole, dropped the issue, clearly feeling now wasn't the time to squabble over who was allowed to call them twerps or not. Ash looked down to his Z-Ring and noticed it pulsing with light. So, too, were Serena and Gladion's. As Lillie and Hau led the charge of the remainder of their group, he could also see Lillie's glowing.
"Well, that's one part done!" Hau said, jumping up a little, while pumping his fists a bit as they slid into the center of the altar. It was good to see him positive, though his words indicated that he knew they were nowhere close to being done with all of this.
"Just a second longer, Nebby," Lillie said, she and Clemont both moving towards the center of the altar. Once they'd moved to the point between the two daises, they bent down, taking their bags off their shoulders and placing them on the ground. The two dug in and took out Nebby and the other Cosmog.
"Pew! Pew!" the Cosmog cried, looking upset at Nebby's motionless form. A rustling from Bonnie made Ash turn his head to see her taking out the flutes, including the repaired Moon Flute. They were glowing powerfully, and both Nebby and the other Cosmog were beginning to brim with that pulsing light.
"What now?" the lemon blonde asked. The altar shook once again, pieces near the edge breaking away from the destruction of reality. Some of the Skull grunts gasped and gripped on to whatever edge was left. Clemont looked the most worried at this, but he stood.
"We need to play the flutes. The Champions' Song," he told them all sternly. Ash folded his arms, trying to think of how to get them to play that. He remembered his own musical refrain, heard so long ago from Tapu Koko, having paid so little mind to it at the time…
"Serena, Gladion, Lillie, we need to call the Tapus here!" Ash said, like sudden realization was hitting him in that moment. No one argued the point, all four of them making sure to gather near the center. Clemont stepped back with Team Rocket, Hau and Bonnie, watching all the events precipitating around them. Ash breathed in, but wasn't entirely sure how to act on his suggestion. So, he just raised his Z-Ring into the air as it glowed. The others followed suit.
Kauuuuuuu! came the shrill cry of Tapu Koko, piercing the air loudly. At this, Ash looked up, and from the four quadrants surrounding the altar, all four of the Tapus flitted through the sky, leaving destroyed Ultra Beasts in their wake as they drew near. Serena was the one to make the official request.
"Please give us the song! We've all heard the notes!" she yelled up to them as they circled overhead. Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini floated closer to them, eyes glistening while Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu held the air safely.
The flutes…Tapu Fini spoke in all of their heads. Ash turned to Bonnie, and the Sun Flute and Moon Flute both gravitated out of her hands and into the air, spinning through the air and shooting into Lillie's and Gladion's hands, respectively. Play them with our song.
Sing them, with our song, Tapu Lele informed them. Ash swallowed, slightly nervous at being asked to sing. Your hearts will resonate.
"We'll do it!" Lillie said, turning to the dais with the symbol of the sun on it. Gladion looked a little apprehensive, but shrugged and made his way to the other dais. Ash and Serena just glanced at each other and remained where they were in the center. The sounds of battle still clashed through the air, yet they seemed to suddenly die down in the voice of the booming Tapu Bulu.
It sent a deep, low note quavering out, trembling through the air, like a monk that was chanting. It was soon joined by Tapu Koko's harmony, resonating through the area. Gladion blew into the flute, matching the tones of Tapu Bulu. Ash grimaced a moment but then began to hum loudly, Pikachu and Greninja watching him with support. His note mixed in with the harmony and the melody. He wasn't alone, Serena and Tapu Lele soon joining in. They were finally joined in by Tapu Fini guiding Lillie.
Bonnie and Hau seemed to clap, and though Ash felt nervous about singing, his voice must have done a passable job, because it soared into beautiful music. They evoked memories, nature and so many other things from the swirling ocean to the wind in the trees. Ash felt like the soaring sound of the flutes with all the different voices and the circling Tapus were creating images of all their purposes. Scenes of battle. Scenes of tender, loving care. Scenes of the growing life. Scenes of hope. Whatever assault the Ultra Beasts were attempting was failing, like a secondary barrier was formed around all of them on the altar.
A bright glow blasted upwards from behind Ash and he turned to see a column erupting from Nebby. At the same time, the other Cosmog was glowing, changing form to the same inert cocoon that Nebby was already in, like the song was safely speeding up its processes. At the same time, light exploded from her as well. The song soared beautifully, almost making them feel like they were dancing while standing still. It was as if they were completely safe from harm as everything spilled around them, including the tremendous sight just beyond the glowing light. A portal was opening, though nothing was coming out of this one. Then the light pulsed forth, sending shuddering waves out. Ash and Serena held to one another while Gladion and Lillie were nearly pushed off their respective daises. The Tapus stopped their song, no longer needed.
Clemont walked forward with all of the others and Plumeria turned her head. Then, just as the light seemed to reach its peak, it blasted out around them once more and Ash felt everything stop. Plumeria, the Skull grunts and all of the Ultra Beasts seemed to freeze in place. Only the Tapus and they, themselves, were able to move. The reason was soon made plain.
"Alola's legendaries…" Rotom commented. It began to move forward, but Bonnie yanked it from the air, eyes wide at the sight. Lillie took a step forward towards the two in the center. Ash felt his breath almost stalling in the sight of such majesty.
Two creatures were before them all, the blue light of evolution causing Gladion to drop the Moon Flute to the ground with his lips parted. Ash just stared at the sight. On one side, closest to Gladion, was a large bat, her wings spread wide. At the top of her body, as though enclosed by the dark wings, lined with gold, was her head. As Ash stared, it seemed as though stars were swirling inside the head, outlined by pink eyes. The sight was beyond majestic, and Ash shifted along to the creature next to her. This one was more familiar, having seen it before, during their first visit to the altar. The shining, gleaming lion practically lit up the night sky, even with such consuming darkness from the portals. Only now, it didn't look transparent, but completely in the flesh.
No one could say anything, especially as the two legendaries moved forward to touch their heads to one another. There was this calming, peaceful resonance between them, setting Ash's heart at ease. Lillie took another step forward.
"It has been…so…so long," the bat spoke in a feminine voice, almost sounding like she was crying. "We have been separated for too long."
"Yes, we have," rumbled Nebby (or Ash assumed it was Nebby) deeply. "You seem surprisingly well for what you've gone through, Lunala."
"And you seem so happy, Solgaleo…or is it…?"
"Nebby…?" Lillie said tentatively, like she couldn't believe it. She certainly wasn't alone. The lion turned, eyes gleaming with what looked like kindness, as he looked towards the blonde. She reached up, hand shaking with Komala attached to her arm. There was a slight hesitation in her touch, but she managed to do so, patting against him. "Nebby! Komala, it really is Nebby!"
"Komaaa…" Komala yawned out, but he did sound just as excited about it. Ash didn't realize that he was doing it, but he and the others that had traveled so long with Nebby also reached up to the lion. He nestled in, smiling with his eyes closed.
"Thank you, Lillie, and all of you," Nebby spoke so confidently. Ash looked over to Lunala, who was nodding at them, looking pleased at it. "Thanks to all your efforts, I have regained my full form and been reunited with one I missed so much."
"I…I missed you so much, Nebby!" Lillie said, sounding on the verge of tears. "I…I had so much to say! So much to apologize for!"
"There is nothing to apologize for," Lunala spoke, her calming voice soothing each and every one of them. Lillie even stopped her near tears. "As the sovereigns of the Ultra Space, we have endured so much more. That Solgaleo…or Nebby, has even deigned to be with you and stand here now, shows how much he knows you care."
"Indeed," Nebby spoke. Ash let out a breathless chuckle; it was weird to hear Nebby not shouting "pew" every couple seconds. "Lunala has endured far worse under the Dread Sovereign than I ever did in your care, or the care of Lusamine. He and Nihilego held her in thrall, preventing her from pulling herself out. Thanks to you, though, we have achieved that."
"It…it was nothing," Clemont admitted, rubbing the back of his neck as Lunala bowed to all of them. It felt beyond surreal, though clearly not to Gladion.
"Dread Sovereign?" he asked with concern. Nebby faced away from Lillie, who had wiped the vestiges of her tears from her face, in order to get serious.
"The one who locked us in the Ultra Space, stripped us of our powers…he…no, it, now supports the entirety of the Ultra Space. I am not aware if it has manipulated Lusamine and directed her actions but…"
"No. My mother is in control of herself," Lillie said decisively. Nebby and Lunala gave no reaction to that at all. "Maybe she's let go of her inhibitions thanks to Nihilego, but every action she takes is still her own."
"Quite possibly," Lunala agreed, bowing modestly. Ash felt he was a little lost, but continued to listen onwards. "Regardless, the Dreaded One, another name we have for it, has long been seeking to break free, as had we, in order to regain our power, which exists in the void inside it. Even now, we are searching for one another, for the light. It was an eternal struggle, until six years ago."
"You mean until Michael?" Ash asked, though it was more of a rhetorical question than anything else. He wasn't sure if either Nebby or Lunala would understand of whom he was speaking, though it didn't matter. He was now piecing things together for himself.
"The event six years ago almost permanently linked our worlds once more, long after the guardian deities of Alola had originally sealed them, but recent events weakened the boundaries," Nebby explained further to them. "When this so-called 'Michael' attempted to bridge the divide, we all saw the chance to escape; for us, to reach freedom, but for the Dreaded One, to devour this world. Thankfully, he was ill-informed, though it led to our separation, and the prime Nihilego with me. It eventually lost the energy to sustain itself…"
"And was tasked with keeping me prisoner," Lunala concluded. Ash nodded, relatively understanding everything. Lillie gasped, as though she understood something of importance, but whatever it was didn't matter to any but her. "Yet we are two halves, inexorably drawn to one another at twilight and dawn, and at last we have reunited! We are prepared to gain our power back!"
"Indeed!" Nebby rumbled powerfully, sounding like the fire of the sun. "At long last, our power has returned! Likewise, I am well aware of your plan to save this world, the world that I know you all love so much. So, we shall aid you! Through the portal to the Ultra Space we have created!"
"Inside is a space of mixed realities, dangerous to traverse," Lunala continued. "Yet, if you stick with us, you shall be safe. If we can put an end to the Dread Sovereign and stop Lusamine's desires, then the void should be sealed up. Your world saved!"
"If that's the case, what are we waiting around here for?" Ash asked, smirking a little as he put his hands on his hips. The others all nodded, while Nebby sounded like he was chuckling. He said nothing, acting like he should have known the whole time exactly what they would say.
"Then, grab on!" Nebby roared. No one needed telling twice, even Team Rocket. Their entire group instantly made their way to one of the two great legendaries and held tight (though not before Bonnie grabbed the dropped flutes), with those riding Nebby clambering on top of him. Rotom looked beyond excited, even mentioning something about its backup data. Once Nebby and Lunala made sure they were secure, the two looked at one another, sharing a moment of tenderness before each gave a cry again. Time started up as Plumeria suddenly gasped and the Team Skull members cried out in a comical fashion. "Here we go!"
"Plumeria! We'll be back soon! Get everyone to defend this portal until we do!" Ash yelled back. Plumeria watched, still in a state of shock, but eventually nodded while she recovered. Once she had, Nebby bounded forward through the air, making a giant leap towards the rippling portal, while Lunala soared right at it. Shrieks, screeches and roars filled the air, and Ash gave one last look to the sky, as what looked like their forces and those of the Ultra Beasts came in to clash once more.
Then, Ash felt like he was suddenly squeezing through something, the breath being stolen from his lungs as all those battling in their world disappeared from sight. Team Rocket was screaming in fear. Hau and Bonnie were laughing gaily. The others, however, were all focused on the impending battle inside the Ultra Space as they all passed through the portal. Ash closed his eyes, waiting for something to happen while Pikachu gripped at his shirt tightly. Then the squeezing stopped, and he felt a warmth around him, like a bubble.
"We have arrived," Nebby spoke. Ash opened his eyes, dropping suddenly from Nebby's back. His feet hit the ground, and he realized that, at the very least, that surface felt normal. Behind him, there was a light, shrinking slightly, but holding itself open. He couldn't hear anything from beyond, on the other side, and the silence was all too obvious in the space, but he could sense the titanic battle still taking place in their world. "Lusamine is no doubt further in, where the Dreaded One commands the forces…or perhaps even relies on her to do so. Promising a perfect fusion of worlds…"
"The walls are so weird," Bonnie commented. Ash looked to them, noticing at last the composition of the walls they were sandwiched between. For now, it looked like a corridor, leading towards a larger area at the end, as if the space itself was incomplete as of yet. Pikachu shivered upon him, while Greninja tensed. There was a darkness up ahead…no doubt Lusamine and their "Dread Sovereign". Most notable about the walls, however, was that they were pulsing and looked like undulating blue rivers. Bonnie reached out for one, but James suddenly reached forward and took her hand.
"I wouldn't touch those, mini-twerpette," he said coldly. Hearing that, Ash knew he was serious.
"Indeed, I would not," Lunala explained. Bonnie didn't pout, but looked at the large bat. "While you remain with us, you are yet safe, though in time, those who are not could inevitably lose their minds. This is a place where worlds blend and collide, after all. To touch the walls could suck you inside an endless abyss of memories, pasts, presents and futures that have been accrued. Best to stick close to the center."
"S-sorry…" Bonnie said.
"Rotom can sense the area's strangeness. All but Rotom's most basic functions have been shut down, which is why Rotom backed up data. Rotom cannot even display a map!" the Pokédex moaned out. Dedenne seemed to not care, hopping out of Bonnie's bag and patting her softly while looking ready for the battle ahead. That gave Ash an idea.
"Everyone, come on out!" he called, sending his pokeballs into the air. All of his Pokémon emerged, and Ash realized that he had been able to easily call forth them all, either by Greninja having left his pokeball of his own volition, or possibly just the rules of the Ultra Space. The others saw that as a good idea, and those who didn't have their Pokémon out, called upon them. Thankfully, they were all able to fit in the corridor. "Okay, Nebby, lead the way."
Nebby nodded, and he began stepping forward, the giant lion carrying them down the eerie corridor of silent space. Serena suddenly gripped at Ash's shoulder and he looked at her, noticing her staring at the wall. It looked like a bubble of memory was floating by, showing Alain and his Charizard fighting one of the red Ultra Beasts outside the portal. It was replaced with another, showing a familiar blond man, with a familiar blue flute, calling forth pouring darkness. Then, another, where Mallow and Lana stood back to back as Totem Lurantis slashed against one of the electrical Ultra Beasts. They continued on, their breathing barely audible in the space. He was starting to feel like he was being doused in constant water. Another image flashed by, one of a baby girl, held by two people that looked familiar, but the sight was gone too quickly.
"This place would be fascinating…if it weren't frightening," Clemont remarked. No one disagreed with him. Ash walked a little forward, taking a glimpse of Lillie, whose lips were set in determination. He filled himself with that same determination. The darkness drew closer and closer, and the space suddenly began to resemble something more…physical.
Broken rocks were strewn about the area. There even seemed to be slats of wood, and in the distance, mountains. Ash could even swear that he heard the trickle of water, despite there being no lake or river. Objects that looked like twisted trees were also sprouting from the solid surface of the ground. It wasn't hard to notice how empty and barren all of that seemed. However, Ash was solely fixated on a large rock ahead, bringing his feet to a stop while Pikachu leapt off his shoulder. He, Greninja and the rest of the team drew ranks while the others stopped, as well, staring with him.
"Well, well…If Lusamine wasn't right," cackled the voice of the man that was sitting lazily upon the rock. "She said y'all would be comin'. It didn't want to listen, but turns out she knew more than enough. It wouldn't get half as far without 'er."
"Guzma." Ash's voice was even, staring at the leader of Team Skull. He smirked, and then threw himself off the rock, disheveled hair flapping about and his glasses jiggling before he landed with what would have resulted in a large thud if they were back in their own world.
"But, I shoulda seen it comin', too. 'Cause I ain't no Ultra Beast that's got this single-minded obsession. I ain't that stupid," the man said, stalking forward with a wicked grin upon his face. He was fingering his pokeball, but Ash looked beyond him for just a second, feeling the intense pressure further along the corridor. Yet he snapped back to Guzma in a second. "But you…y'all are just stupid! You stepped into the beast's den, tryin' to stop our dreams…and I ain't letting you out alive."
Author's Note: I'd like to think this was an exciting intense chapter, but only you guys can tell me that! Still, a lot of action! Also, finally taking my "hormone" subplot somewhere with the toxins making Ash and Serena lose their inhibitions. Good thing for Pikachu! But, with everything, more information was revealed. I've been hinting at the "Dreaded Sovereign" since midway through the first book, and now we're close to the reveal. However! This does not mean Lusamine is not the main villain. Just want to clear that up. Otherwise, we're in the Ultra Space and face to face with Guzma. So, let's do this! Things are about to heat up epically!
So, without further ado, I'm thanking people profusely: Dawn126 and Werejaguar of Halloween Town for favoriting; and a really big thanks to Amourshiper35, Tenzalucard123, AdvancedAlto, XDiamondX90, potat lasaro, Vivian Gray, aliensinnoh, Cottonmouth25, Omegaz, FantasyLover88, TheEnigmatic97, ChE clarinetist, TheSparklyKitten, Alexandria Prime, ultimateCCC, thatsmybusiness43, TheShpeH31 and 1 guest for reviewing. Really, a great thanks to those who supported me thus far. Hope you'll continue, so please Review and Dare to Be Silly.