So this was SUPPOSED to come out in December but my mom made me do history homework instead -_- Here it is. Just five days late.

Kyle said a choice word telepathically.

Whoa there, mister clean-mouthed, Aj said, startled. I thought the worst you ever say is "oh no."

They're here, he said, ignoring her. The admins.

A chill shot through Ashley. All of them?

No Toxica or Crateron, but that's expected.

Mike was silent for now. He'd more or less been that way ever since Aj had pulled Ashley and Kyle into their aura conversation. But he'd apparently been panicking a while ago. Ashley still couldn't imagine him freaking out. It just didn't fit him.

How long 'til they reach here? Aj wondered.

They're in the garage place, so they aren't far, but it depends on how long they stand there chatti– Nope, they're coming this way.

Aj swore. Ashley searched for something to say, something encouraging or helpful (heck, anything), but she came up with nothing.

Then Mike spoke for the first time. Guys, no matter what, remember to think.

Thank you for your faith in us, Ashley mentally muttered.

Really, though. Keep your head on straight.

Voices started to echo from down the hall.

Any other last minute advice? Ashley piped up.

Sound intensity is W/m squared, Aj said immediately.

When in doubt, the answer is candela, Kyle put in.

King Philip coughed out flem gleefully snorting, Ashley added.

You guys are hopeless, Mike said.

Never turn to page 72 of Life Science and show Mike, remembered Ashley.

It was page 275, Mike protested.

You remember the page?

Yeah, I had to avoid it constantly.

The door opened and J came in, followed by the other Syzygy administrators.

Be patient and don't blurt, Kyle said quickly.

Blurt if, if you're short on time and it's a bonus, Aj stammered.

Never forget that hydrogen and helium are in the sun, Ashley snorted.

Mike burst out laughing.

"…Voltwing first?" Folii was saying.

There was a squeak that sounded vaguely Aj-like, then their connections dropped completely.

Guys? Ashley thought. You there?

No one responded.

Aj, what happened?

She got no reply from the aura guardian. Ashley resigned and watched Mystor and Iro heft Mike out of the room.

Good luck, Mike, she thought.

They took him through another door, down a hall, past a right fork, around a right corner, down a staircase, through a left door… He lost track. But they ended up in a large operating room lit with fluorescent lights.

Don't panic, he warned himself.

J pulled out what looked like a remote and slid her thumb down a button. The bronze melted away like a thin film. He gasped for air – he hadn't needed to breathe when he was frozen, but it was still disconcerting. In a moment he realized his lower legs were still petrified.

So I can't transform.

He felt his heart rate rising. Don't panic, don't panic.

Mystor gestured silently for Mike to climb on the high operating table. Mike gestured silently at his feet, an are-you-serious-man-my-legs-don't-work expression on his face. He swore he saw a flicker of a smile on Mystor's face. It disappeared when the man came over to help Mike up. The younger Lynch's metallic feet clanged against the table.

Mystor and Iro strapped Mike to the table, backside down, with thick Velcro ribbons. He pushed against it to test how strong it was; it didn't give.

Iro noticed.

The fist connected with Mike's chin before he even realized Iro had reacted. Head hitting the hard table, Mike yelped. He glared at Iro.

"You didn't have to do that," he muttered.

Iro's expression was full of hatred. Mike couldn't understand why. "Just lie still while we get this over with," the admin growled.

Fyr was attaching a metal and plastic device to Mike's wrist.

"So what're you doing?" Mike said conversationally.

Fyr shot him a look, then glanced at Mystor.

"The device sends energy into you, effectively forcing you to transform. It's how we took your friend's eyes," he explained.

Mike didn't respond to the phrase that was most likely meant to make him flinch. "Aj said you don't need to make us transform first," he said, addressing Iro.

The admin rolled his eyes. "And I suppose we can cut your wings off when you're in normal form, can we?"

"Yeah, I'd prefer that, actually."

"Calm down," Mystor murmured to Iro, who looked ready to hit Mike again. "Anyways, we'll transform you into flying and go from there."

Mike nodded. Iro frowned suddenly. "Mystor, wait…"

Mystor turned to face him. "Yes?"

The eyes of the two admins met. Their stares held fast, calm gray against cold silver. Mike watched Iro's gaze lose its chill and suddenly seem glazed.

"Nothing," Iro said distantly, turning away. Mystor went to the computer screen.

That… Mystor's vindica… mind control… he… he's giving me a chance, Mike realized, suddenly seeing a way out.

"All right, J, you can remove the rest of it," Mystor said.

J fingered the dial again, the metal melted from Mike's legs, and the conversion began.

Aj felt still when she came to. Directly in her line of vision were Kyle (petrified) and Ashley (paralyzed), so she remembered what had happened pretty quickly.

Holy shoot, Did I faint?

(She didn't actually say shoot.)

I guess, I mean, you kinda squeaked and went silent, Ashley let her know.

Aj groaned. How long have I been out?

Only about five minutes.

Kyle, why'd you stop talking at the same time? Ashley wondered.

Hm? Oh, I was hijacking Aj's connection in the first place, he admitted, cuz I'm not in psychic form.

Is Mike gone? Aj cut in, sounding worried.

He – they took him somewhere. Don't know where.

Oh man…

Hey, you're an aura guardian, right? Try looking for him.

Aj sounded distressed. I've never been able to find anybody before! I couldn't find Mike the first time they took him, I couldn't find Kyle today–

Right, so you gotta do it this time, Ashley said seriously. C'mon, Aj.

I can't. I never could.

It doesn't matter, Kyle said grimly. You've got the best chance of all three of us.

But–

Try, Ashley said firmly. Do you want to save Mike or not?

I really do…

Aj tentatively reached out with her mind. She saw corridors outside, the other cells with trainers with them. Going further, she found Iro's room, Fyr's room, a maze of passages, people everywhere. People in the rooms, walking through the halls, meeting and stopping near each other. They all looked blurry to her mind.

I see a ton of people, Aj said.

Good, encouraged Ashley.

But I can't tell them apart.

Dunno what advice to give you… Kyle?

Look for Mike in particular… Sorry, that's all I got.

Ok, Aj thought, What would Mike's aura look like?

She thought of his constant certainty, his rational way of thinking. His ceaseless training to make himself and his team stronger. How he'd been willing to sacrifice himself on the Hearthome Plateau because he felt it was necessary. How he'd tried to do the same an hour ago, when they'd met C and P in the woods.

The aura she'd felt when he hugged her.

She found herself looking not for a person, but for a feeling. Somewhere over to the left, she sensed something that reminded her of it. Looking closer, she realized the feeling centered around a person lying on a table, with several other people moving around him or her… Him. She was pretty sure that was him.

Her heart may not have been tough, but her sight was strong enough to find him.

He… I got him.

Great! Now what?

Oh. Arceus…

Now we go get him, right? said Ashley.

Kinda stuck here.

Ashley hesitated. I'm not.

You're paralyzed.

Yeah, well. She tested her muscles. Paralysis wears off eventually.

It's worn off? Kyle sounded surprised, in a happy way.

Not really, but it's worth a shot…

Ashley pulled her hands, so slow it was almost painful, to where they could push her off the ground. Arms shaking, she strained to sit up.

But–

Don't, she stopped Kyle, Just let me try.

She heaved her body onto her knees, hands on the floor for balance. It took a huge effort just to clumsily slide the ariados silk from her feet. Taking a deep breath, she lifted herself from the ground, painstakingly keeping her balance on weak legs. A shock of numbness swept through her, but she kept gaining height, slowly adjusting to the feel of motion even through electrical paralysis.

Breathing hard, Ashley finally made it to her feet.

What about the door? Aj pointed out.

Enough of Ashley's face was working for her to almost grin. Well, I am a dragon, after all.

Energy surged around her. Its warmth calmed Ashley's nerves and convinced her that she could and would fight the paralysis.

Her arms weren't moving anywhere near their usual speed when she flung a dragon pulse at the door. It split in two, crashing to the side and revealing the cement hallway behind it.

Dang. We have a chance, huh? Aj said, surprised.

A crappy one, but yeah, maybe. Aj, guide me to him?

Turn right and get through the first door you see.

Good luck, Kyle wished her, almost sounding cheerful in hope.

Thanks. Half walking, half gliding on dragon wings, Ashley entered the corridor.

It was horrible. Getting force-fed flying energy was like someone pouring ice water down your throat. Mike clenched his fists, resisting the urge to squirm. It wouldn't do him any good.

"Practically there," Iro muttered.

Mike knew that. The surplus of flying energy was collecting in shoulder blades, where the bulk of the transformation would take place. His shoulders burned, never having held so much energy for so long before. It was almost set to burst.

He was ready for when it did.

Mystor paced by the door. Mike was still a bit wary of him – why would Mystor help him? Iro had definitely seen the loophole before that bizarre staring contest. If Mystor helped him… but he was the bad guy… why?…

"T-minus three," Iro said.

Mike tensed, sore shoulders about to explode.

"Really, Iro?" Folii laughed. "Do you even know what that mea–"

Lavendar energy and white wings burst from Mike's back. He pushed his wings outward as hard as he could – they were between him and the operating table. Wind from the energy howled in his ears, the velcro straps strained and bit into his skin, shouts drifted around him.

"Restrain him, somebody–"

J pulled out the remote. The wind reacted with a mind of its own, flinging the box from her hand into the corner of the room.

The top few restraints started to snap.

"Arceus damn it, where are my pokeballs?" Iro shouted.

Several more snapped. Mike pulled his arms free and undid the rest of the restraints. He ripped the energy injector from his arm. The wind was starting to die away, offering the admins easier movement. Quickly, he hopped to the ground, but someone grabbed him in a headlock from behind. Long silvery slivers hacked at the base of his wings, slicing them as well as his shoulders.

Arceus, get off– Mike cringed, shoulder burning.

Iro released him suddenly, bloodied metal claws falling limp. His eyes were distant again, but the instant they refocused he turned away from Mike, an expression of rage flooding his face.

"Traitor!" he screeched, "TRAITOR!" He slashed at a surprised Mystor's face, cutting deep into his skin. Another slash and blood began to gush from Mystor's throat.

"Iro, stop!" shouted Fyr, running to pull her brother away.

The door burst open in a flash of blue-purple fire. Mystor's bloodshot gray eyes met Mike's pale lavendar again before the young man collapsed.

"Mike, c'mon!" yelled Ashley from the other side of the door.

Mike made a break for it, not looking back at the ghost Lynch. "Where are we going?" he asked, heart beating fast as he flew after Ashley.

We need to get Aj and Kyle unfrozen, she replied telepathically.

The remote's back there!"

Ashley halted suddenly. Then we're going the wrong way.

None of the admins expected the two Lynches to return – Fyr was in tears, and Folii and J were moving Mystor's body.

In the right corner, Mike told Ashley.

Ashley shot in on dragon wings, having grown accustomed to using them in paralysis on the way there. Fyr, face streaked with water, formed a rock sphere between her hands and shot it. It was deflected by a powerful, blue-tinged blast of flying energy from Mike.

"Fyr," grunted J. Fyr approached the hunter, who transferred Mystor to her arms. Mike was nearly blinded by the flash of light J then gave off, purely from the shock of it. When it subsided, he realized her eyes were a familiar shade of gold.

Grinning at the flying type's expression, J said to him, "Didn't see this coming, did you Voltwing?"

She thrust a thunderbolt at him. He ducked, folding his wings in closer. Iro lashed out from the side, aiming for Mike's wings again. Mike kicked him below the stomach, making Iro double over in pain. This time, though, J's thunderbolt hit him.

Okay, he'd been hit with electric moves before. He'd raised a shinx into a champion's luxray, one of his best friends specialized in electric types, and he worked with electricity constantly, but he'd always gone out of his way to never get zapped in flying form.

Pain overrode his thoughts like never before. His shoulders buzzed with burning electrical energy – everything did, really, but especially his shoulders. Mike wasn't even sure if he was screaming; his mind was too fuzzy to tell…

It stopped abruptly, dragon fire knocking J into the table. "I got it, let's go!" Ashley shouted.

His head cleared. With a giant beat of his wings, Mike shot out the door after Ashley, who was holding the little box.

He followed her through twists and turns in the corridors. She was moving her wings at sharp angles and odd bends to maneuver through the narrow halls. Mike wasn't doing nearly as well on his bird wings – he was constantly bumping into a wall or clipping a corner. After he finally smacked into a wall, he saw something behind them that was catching up.

Iro's following us!

Ignoring his jealousy for Iro's much smaller bug wings, Mike accelerated down a straightaway.

It's okay, we made it.

Ashley tucked in her wings to fit through an already-blasted-open doorway, sinking in the air but climbing again once she reopened them on the other side. Mike took a running landing and sprinted through the doorway, not taking the risk.

The next doorway they entered was where Kyle and Aj were. Ashley lowered the dials with her hand – her whole hand, since her fingers weren't nimble enough for the job. The bronze coating on Aj and Kyle melted off. "Thanks," Kyle groaned, stretching out stiff limbs.

"Guys, Iro's behind–"

Aj tackled Mike to the ground; a spear of electric energy shot over them and cracked the wall.

Your shoulder… she realized.

It's fine. It'll heal, he let her know. Get out of the room, or else we're cornered, Mike quickly said to the others.

They made a break for it, Mike bringing up the rear and deflecting a shot of fire energy. Let's break these guys out while we're here, Ashley said suddenly, glancing at the many doors.

That's great, but Iro could shoot them all. They're not Lynches who can fight.

I'll distract him, Mike said. "Oh, %^&$," he hissed audibly, turning around and running back towards the operation room like he'd forgotten something. A rock energy arrow whizzed past his head.

Mike! Anger was evident in Aj's voice.

If you guys are fast, I'll be back soon, I promise.

He morphed into electric form – his wings were no use right now, anyways – and discharged electricity behind him as he ran. Bullets of various energies rocketed by him, most of them almost hitting their mark. A fire one ignited his hair. One with grass energy skimmed his side. He started running haphazardly to avoid the shots from Iro's rifle.

Mike had made it halfway back to where the other admins were when a steel type bullet pierced his ankle. He fell, skidding a few feet on the concrete. Iro had caught up – Mike flung a thunderbolt at him, occupying him just long enough for Mike to get back to his feet.

Iro grinned and hefted his gun at Mike. "You lose. Switch to flying type, Voltwing."

"I don't think you understand," Mike told him, bracing himself against the wall. Aah, yeah, that ankle hurt. "You really can't kill me til you've got my wings."

Iro nodded thoughtfully. "Sure. But for now, I can still hurt you more. How's that ankle feeling?"

Mike didn't answer. I can't run… the only way I can move fast is by bringing out my wings. And that's exactly what he wants.

Oh. Wait.

Mike directed electric energy into Iro's body. Static visibly coursed through the Syzygy Lynch's muscles. Iro's eyes widened and he dropped his rifle, collapsing against the wall.

"What, haven't you ever been paralyzed?"

Iro glared at him and shakily pressed a button on his belt. It beeped a few times.

Definitely an SOS. Mike turned into flying mode and headed back to where his friends were.

He rounded a corner and yelped – C was running at him, pokeball in hand. Mike changed directions and went down a random path. He wasn't any better at flying in close quarters than before.

"Are you kidding me?" he yelled when he came upon P.

Backtracking, he was flying for just three more seconds before he reached a room.

It was a warehouse – random crates and old energy receivers sat in the corners. There were five other entrances to the room, and out of each one came a different henchman of J's – five of the six who hadn't been hit at the Hearthome plateau.

"Crap," Mike muttered, finding P, the sixth, behind him.

Flashes of red lit up the room, reminding Mike of that night on the plateau. Every pokemon out was a bug type.

"String shot!" C shouted.

Mike folded his wings in. Sticky silk hit him from all directions, trapping his arms and wings close to him. By the time the bugs stopped attacking, he couldn't move his upper body at all and his legs were locked together. Mike tried to push his wings outward but couldn't.

Come on, I broke out of the operating table restraints but I can't escape this?

The henchmen had taken out other pokemon – bigger ones. Statistically stronger ones. "Bisharp, Weavile," C said to two of his pokemon, "Your move."

Mike panicked when he realized the pokemon's forearms were knives.

No. Don't panic.

Thinking fast, he remembered that spider silk was essentially bug energy as a solid. It couldn't be that hard to… no, not enough time to think further, the pokemon were already there.

The Bankai transformation energy blew C's bisharp and weavile back a bit. Mike absorbed it back, first, then took in the string shot. It sank into him and disappeared.

Not enough, he thought, this isn't enough.

Bisharp slashed at him first, blades infused with dark energy. Mike twisted away, ankle throbbing painfully. He readied a pair of air slashes and held them like swords.

Arceus… How does Kyle do this?

He blocked the weavile's two blades with one of his. He was well aware that he wouldn't heal if he was hit, and conscious of his surroundings. So when the first shot was fired – a hyper beam – he was ready.

The double task of sparring with the bisharp and weavile while absorbing special attacks was more than he'd ever taken on before. But it felt strangely familiar, innately right to fight in a way that engaged his mind so much. Mike ducked around a metal claw from Weavile and deflected Bisharp's nightslash. He collected energy from an ice beam and flamethrower in his wings and blocked Weavile's slash and Bisharp's fury cutter with his air slash swords. He felt the amount of energy in his wings steadily rising, his feathers glowing brighter and brighter. They were reaching such a high capacity, they were starting to ache.

Then the bisharp landed a hit – a metal claw along Mike's bicep. The Lynch knocked the other blade aside and finally released the stored energy.

It was a typeless discharge of sorts – no types were safe. The bisharp and weavile were blasted back like they'd been shot from a cannon. Everyone else, Mike could barely see through the immense waves of energy rippling out from him. With all that power coursing through him, he felt absolutely alive.

The attack ended when the energy ran out. None of his opponents looked conscious, and at least a few – he winced when he realized the bisharp had landed headfirst on P's stomach – wouldn't wake up again.

"Was this a trap?" Mike said suddenly, eyes darting around. "It was too easy not to be!"

But it occurred to him that he'd been fighting a bisharp and a weavile – both known for fighting skill – and getting attacked from all directions at the same time. Why did that sound so much more difficult than it felt?

"Mike!" Ashley flew in, followed by Aj and Kyle. "We – whoa," she said, scanning the wreckage, "I guess I can't complain anymore. I was gonna say we've been calling for you for ages."

"They've all been released, then?"

"Yeah. Most were sent home," replied Aj. "They're in no shape to keep fighting, mentally if not physically."

"And then there are the ones whose teams are gone entirely," Ashley said, grimacing.

"Here," said Kyle a moment later, taking the hand of a – hopefully – unconcscious abomasnow, "Let's lock these guys up and get out of here."

"That might not be necessary," Aj mentioned. At least, not the getting out part."

"Why not?"

"Two of our divisions have arrived – I'm guessing south and west. They've brought the fighting to us, instead."

"All right, then, let's go fight. After dealing with these guys, anyways," Mike decided.

The situation in the eastern – northeastern – division was was exactly like the north, hours before. A general sense of panic overlying explosions, trainers and pokemon running for their lives, complete madness.

"There's so many 'copters," Anna said frightfully.

"We'll have to split up," Kevin determined. "It'll be faster that way. Hopefully people will catch on."

They divided themselves into three groups. Kevin was with Ian, Dawn with Anna, and the other two trainers were together. "Let's take that one," suggested Ian, pointing at a 'copter that was wreaking havoc thirty yards from them.

"Yeah."

Kevin brought out Needle and Chira; Ian took out his altaria and noctowl.

"We need more trainers."

Kevin looked around and shook his head. "They haven't learned to avoid 'copters yet. The receivers are still picking up a decent amount of external energy."

"Okay then. Ka, Silver, use dragonbreath and air cutter!"

"Needle, Chira, thunderbolt!"

Five attacks surged upward, Kevin's auraspheres included. Suddenly, one thunderbolt and the air cutter were cut off, accompanied by a yell:

"Are you out of your $%&#ing mind?"

Kevin turned to face their attacker, a girl who might've been in her late teens. Chira and Silver bared their teeth at her rhydon, which had tackled them both.

"You can't just attack like that," a tall guy said angrily.

The energy collected in the 'copter left in a surge of white energy towards a cluster of trainers farther away. Screams flew before the shot hit.

Needle yowled and let out electricity at the 'copter. Ka the altaria followed, and Chira and Silver joined in with their attacks.

"Stop!" yelled the girl, "Stop it!"

The taller guy shouted something to his hitmonlee, which turned on them. He lashed out with a long-ranged kick.

Kevin darted in the way and forced aura through his palm at the pokemon's kick. At least ten more trainers around them had noticed what was going on.

"You're insane," one yelled.

"It works!" Ian yelled back. "If the 'copter overloads on energy, it explodes!"

With the ceasefire from so many pokemon around them, the 'copter wasn't absorbing energy nearly as fast. Kevin and Ian's four pokemon stopped launching their energy just before the 'copter fired into the crowd watching them. A boy and a kangaskhan jumped out of the way. The others warily stepped back.

"What if they're from Syzygy?" someone wondered.

That was it. "Look, we'll show you," said Kevin. "Needle, Chira–"

"Stop them!"

An aura barrier flew up before Kevin even realized he'd done it, sheltering him, Ian, and their pokemon from the angry trainers. The rhydon from before rammed his head into it, giving an earsplitting bellow but failing to break the barrier.

"You're going to get us all blown up!" The girl shouted angrily.

Kevin glared at her and the rest of the trainers. "Cowards," he snarled. "You're all too afraid for your own rear ends to take a chance and help everyone else!"

The girl made a noise of frustration and turned to the others. "Guys, get through the barrier!"

Kevin pushed his aura into the bluish shield as pokemon came charging in from all around. Some started launching special attacks. "Ian!" he yelled, "the 'copter!"

Nodding, Ian called out, "Ka, Silver, dragonbreath and air cutter! Needle, Chira, do your thing!"

Kevin may not have been shooting auraspheres this time, but he still went on the offense. While keeping the barrier up, he directed the elemental energy from the trainers' attacks upward, propelling it faster at the 'copter. Thank Arceus for the tree cover; the trainers might've seen what he was doing otherwise. He sensed the shield weakening; he strengthened it without a second thought.

At the same time, something odd started to happen. A ripple of blue sparks coursed through Kevin, from feet to head. He didn't even flinch. But as he kept redirecting energy and holding up the shield, it happened again. And again.

Kevin was too concentrated to feel it. It was only after he heaved the aura energy of the barrier itself into the 'copter just in cast everything else hadn't been enough, after feeding just a few more stray attack energies into the 'copter, after shoving all the remaining aura energy he could find upwards… Only then did he realize every last bit of him was on fire.

There wasn't any particular order to the next three things that happened.

He screamed in agony, the attackers stopped in horror, the 'copter exploded.

If you don't know what exactly happened to Kevin, it'll be explained.

Ka is named after the favorite marching show of a friend of mine - many friends of mine, really, but this friend is one I call "Ian" in stories sometimes.

Oh, and all that nonsensical stuff in the first segment (like w/m squared and page 275) are jokes from that science team the four of us were in way back in sixth and seventh grade. A lot of them have to do with the competition itself, like blurting and bonus questions, but others have to do with what we read in the textbooks. Plus we knew the mnemonic for the Kingdom Phylum etc. sequence started with King Philip, but we didn't know the rest so I made one up.

Okay ~ see you next chapter. And review :D