Well, here we are. The final battle is nigh. Hopefully you all enjoy and leave a review on it! Time for Chapter 28!


Chapter 28

A Dreaded

"Everyone, close ranks! Pull back to the portal!" Alain swiveled his head from the air, riding atop the back of Charizard alongside Mairin, who was gripping to him. He looked down to the altar, where Lionel had arrived, he and his Banette beating back some of the Ultra Beasts that were daring to draw near to the portal so they could join their comrades inside at full strength. Mairin tapped at him.

"Come on, Alain," the girl said. He nodded wordlessly and Charizard immediately understood the implications. He angled downward, the blue fire from his maw jetting outwards. Alain wasn't the only one moving into position. There were plenty of others flying their way, closing in on the portal that Ash and the others had escaped into some time ago. In seconds, however, he had been one of the first ones to reach the top of the altar, Charizard breaking up some of the stones as he landed. Alain grabbed Mairin and hopped off.

"Charizard, Blast Burn!" he roared, punching towards the ground with his natural ferocity. Charizard mimicked him, punching down on the actual stone. It burned with fire and shot across, ripping away some of the rocky material. Thankfully, there wasn't a problem with destroying such a venerated site, since much of the altar and the canyon around them seemed to be disintegrating bit by bit from their location's connection to the Ultra Space…or perhaps just what lay in it. Regardless, Charizard's fire shot out towards some of the speedier Ultra Beasts. It impacted with one of them, exploding and sending all of them flying into the air.

"Sceptile, Frenzy Plant!" came the familiar voice. Alain, having fully landed safely and regaining his balance, turned to see that Sawyer and Seamus had arrived, along with the rest of the group called Team Nova. Alakazam's eyes were glowing blue, holding the Ultra Beasts in the air while the roots ripped at the stones they were upon in order to beat the beasts away rapidly. It was a slight dent in the enemy forces. Very slight.

"Man, do these things keep attacking or what?" called another voice, this one on the stairs. Alain ran towards it, noticing that some of those Team Skull members were hanging off of the side, as more and more of the steps disintegrated underneath their feet. Things would really become a problem if the whole altar shrunk. They'd have far less means to defend the area were that to happen. Not that it was Team Skull speaking, but one of Ash's friends, instead. "Blaziken, Blaze Kick! You want to join, Mr. Meyer?"

"Don't mind if I do, young lady," Alain heard of the familiar voice. There was an explosion down the stairs, like a jetting rocket going off and knocking a whole herd of Ultra Beasts away.

"Well, with you guys here, there's no need to worry!" Dawn spoke. Alain had started to recognize that catchphrase anywhere, something which amused him. Mairin ran over to where Lionel and a few others were, including Plumeria, both the Team Skull admin and the leader of ARC standing back to back.

"Stop dawdling! This is a fight! Torterra, Stone Edge!"

"Do you always have to be so sour? I mean, you haven't lightened up after how many years?" Finally, the owners of the voices all drew into vision, running up the slowly crumbling stairs. The ground shuddered a bit, even more of the stairs disintegrating, forcing the group that contained Dawn, May, Meyer and Paul to leap over the steps and on to the altar proper. In fact, most of their forces were being pushed or pulled back to the altar at this point. Only the Champions seemed to still be holding off the air, along with Latias, surprisingly still Mega Evolved despite Ash's absence.

"Stop arguing, Dawn. Now isn't the best time for it," came the stern tones of Brock. He was the next to be running up the stairs, his Croagunk moving stealthily enough to slam one of the sparking Ultra Beasts off the stairs with a Brick Break. Near his side, Aria was sending a Mystical Fire down the steps, and the girl that had joined them during the League, Maka, seemed to be giving support with Helping Hand to Korrina's Lucario and Aria's Delphox.

"Maybe not, but now I have an awesome idea for the ending climax of my movie! Just need the kissing shot in the heat of battle!" Maka said cheerfully. With the Oricorio support, Delphox's Mystical Fire grew much more powerful, exploding down the stairs as an inferno. Further down, as Alain could see while he pulled a Skull grunt up from the edge of the altar, itself, more of Ash's old friends and the woman named Hapu were battling their way up the crumbling stairs. Another shudder almost threw Alain off balance while he heaved upwards.

"Yo, thanks, bro! You real cool!" the grunt said, turning around to help his fellow compatriots up. Alain was turning away already, looking towards the group of Brock's.

"Well, I've got no problem providing a kissing scene for you if you need it," the man said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at Aria. His Croagunk raised a poison laced fist. "Or some other time. Definitely some other time."

"Never change, Brock," Dawn laughed out alongside May.

"Stop dawdling!" Lionel and Plumeria snapped at the same time, each yelling at their own people. That made the girls jump, while Paul shook his head. Everyone started drawing inward at last. The altar shook, a wrenching sound going off loudly. Alain almost lost his balance, only finding it by Mairin and one of the guys from Team Nova (was certain his name was Rocky) holding him up.

"That did not sound very cool," Rocky spoke as everyone looked around worriedly. As if to make matters much worse than they were already, a most unwelcome sound assailed Alain's ears.

Guzzuzzuzzzuzzuzz. Everyone there had to have heard it, as well, and they looked up. It was still dark out, though the sky was lightening towards daybreak. He hadn't even noticed that it had been hours since Ash and the others had entered the portal they were defending. That job was about to get a lot harder as a very large Ultra Beast slammed into the center of the altar, between the two daises, flailing around with its inky black tentacles.

"So, there are more of you, huh?" called the man that Alain had met when they gathered at Lanakila upon arrival to Alola. He had a grin on his lips, wiping something that was on his chin (which looked a lot like blood) on to his hand. His Persian, or so Alain assumed it was, stalked forward with the same kind of expression as its trainer.

"Nanu, cut it out! We don't have time to indulge your love for battles," Lionel snapped at the man. The Kahuna didn't care, grinning all the more from Lionel's request. He did, however, throw his head high.

"Hey, Team Skull! You want to have something to write home about? This is your moment!" Nanu cried out, voice echoing all around the canyon. Many of the grunts that were there froze and looked at him in surprise. "Who cares what the trials have said about you! You take this down, you'll have been more useful than half the people that finished them! To hell with the system! Saving the people around you is what's worth livin' for!"

"Big Bro Nanu!" they called. The Kahuna scowled at being called that but pointed straight at the large and bulky Ultra Beast. They got the order, and all of the members of Team Skull leapt right at it, battering the creature with all the attacks they could muster as a team. Small pocket explosions and quick-flying strikes slammed the beast's body, even as its tentacles whipped around and knocked some of the Pokémon away. They were rapidly replaced as the battle continued. Alain just pulled back, coming closer to Lionel, who shook his head in amusement. Plumeria actually looked proud.

"Those adorable idiots," she chuckled out. "Looks like we'll have something to tell the boss about when this is all over. So, let's make sure he gets out of here safely!"

"You got it, Big Sis!" Plumeria's words, in conjunction with Nanu's earlier ones, seemed to light a fire inside all of the members of Team Skull there. Alain's eyes widened as he was joined with all of the others, including the less recognizable members of Ash's friend group (he knew their names were Misty, Cilan and Iris, and they were proving themselves strong, but he knew little else). They were all clustered now, as Alain watched Nanu cross his arms with those Z-Move poses which he'd seen in action during the League.

"Black Hole Eclipse!" the Kahuna called and all of Team Skull moved away from the slumping Ultra Beast. Persian stalked forward, forming a large black orb of energy that it fired straight ahead. It collided with the Ultra Beast, and the creature was lifted up into it as it grew and grew before the orb consumed it entirely. There was a brief moment of silence, and then the orb exploded around the Ultra Beast in wisps of shadow. Nanu smirked. "Go back to hell, beast. Stay in your nothingness."

"Aw, yeah! Team Skull is…THE GREATEST!" the band of thugs cheered out, clearly giddy over the victory they had managed to secure. It was a reminder to Alain of how much working together mattered. If that happened, it didn't matter how strong you were, because you would always find a way out of situations.

"They're starting to thin, it seems," Plumeria commented, making everyone look upwards, to the attacking army. They were definitely moving closer to sunrise now. Plumeria's comment was also true, with less and less of the beasts assaulting them at this point. Alain could only hope that all of the towns throughout the world, and especially this region, were weathering the assault, as well. They weren't done, though. Each of their own army was clustered on the altar, and the force of the Ultra Beasts was now converging upon them.

"One last push, everyone!" Lionel demanded, shuffling his foot along the ground. "Let's make sure our world is still here when Ash and the others come back."

"Yeah!" Brock led the others in cheering. The dam broke, the Ultra Beasts in the sky descending upon them. Alain honestly couldn't even remember giving his order. All he remembered was that he was in the thick of battle once more, protecting what was dearest to him. Charizard, Sceptile and Alakazam joined forces, then Chespie was battling alongside Piplup. To the side was a combination of a Rhyperior and Astrid's Absol. It was like chaos on the altar's top.

There was a bright light glimmering in the distance, through the portal. To Alain, catching sight of it, it felt like it was a beacon. Calling out, while also giving them courage and the zeal to continue forward. Even now, Ash was pushing them all forward in the way that only he knew. It gave Alain something to look forward to: the day they'd battle again. He had a feeling the result would be very different then.

Kauuuuuuuuu! The great cry split the air like tribal sounds. Lightning was flashing across the sky as four colored lights came soaring back towards the center of the island's canyon, drilling down. From the lead one flew electricity that turned from yellow to purple. The other three behind it were also letting off the purple power, though not quite electricity, as they zapped the Ultra Beasts out of the air. Kokokokoko!

"The guardian deities…" Hapu commented in what sounded like awe, having finally reached the top of the stairs, supporting Mina. Said deities soared downward, righting themselves as they skirted along the flat surface of the altar. Alain then heard a voice in his head, sounding like four at once. He wasn't alone in that.

Take courage, humans! Our battle is almost done! We shall land the final blow in this war and make safe Alola! Come, we have been summoned!

The four turned into bright, differently colored streaks of light that shot into the portal they had all been protecting, vanishing inside. The Ultra Beasts seemed to stop a moment, twitching. Then they screeched loudly, as if sent into a frenzy. Alain's eyes widened and he made sure that Mairin was as close to him as could be.

"They're like wounded, dying animals now…I don't know what Ash and the others did, but it's sure as heck working! It might make them more dangerous, though, so be careful!" Alain yelled out to everyone around him. They all heard him, but didn't respond given the viciously charging Ultra Beasts now cascading upon them with loud screeches.

"Then we end it!" Lionel said coldly. "One last push. Give Ash the support he needs, and they'll take care of the rest from inside." Alain nodded, readying his body for the last fight, silently wishing for Ash to return safely and end the battle. Soon.


"That's the thing I was telling ya about," Guzma's voice called out. There was still no echo in the space, and Ash refused to turn his head to look at the man. He was simply too fixated by what had manifested behind Lusamine. The woman was smirking, as though she had been waiting for this moment a long time. Ash's eyes quickly scanned the area, looking at his friends, including a furious Bonnie, all standing with him. Nihilego was on the ground, twitching. "That…shadow."

"The Dreaded One…Necrozma," Lunala answered. Her voice seemed strained, either from some earlier exertion, or possibly even holding back her own fury towards what was before them. Ash couldn't quite understand what a Necrozma was to begin with.

"Wait…this is the one you were talking about?" Clemont shouted out. Gladion was taking a step forward, looking ready to jump straight into a battle against the creature. The shadow, having now taken what seemed to be a somewhat corporeal form, flashed brightly and Ash held his arm out, stopping his friend from making a mistake.

"Yes," Nebby grumbled out. He, too, sounded strained, and Ash had to wonder. Necrozma, fully formed with its jagged edges, looked to almost be shining, as though basking in the sun on one side, and glowing in the moon on the other. However, it seemed less to be absorbing it and more refracting it, as though reaching for the light, but never quite grasping it. Ash shook his head, wondering just what was going on in that moment. "It is the void of our power…the one who imprisoned us. Trapped us in that endless void."

"Imprisoned?" Necrozma questioned. Its voice sounded low, guttural, shuddering and sent a shiver down all of their spines. Serena gripped at Ash's hand in what felt like fear. Necrozma floated forward. There was no expression on its visage, making it all the more eerie. "Backwards…utterly backwards. I simply held thrall to your power. Made it mine! Yet it imprisoned me here!"

"Necrozma is the void space of our power," Lunala spoke, cutting across the fiendish monster that was in front of them. Ash swallowed, feeling the dreadful aura that spilled off of its figure. It really did look empty. No wonder it could reflect all light that it tried to take in. "Once, we were one. One Cosmog born from our predecessors. Then, as we grew and matured inside the Ultra Space, its sovereign rulers, we began to split into two beings of immense power, not having yet changed forms."

"However, all power begets a void of power elsewhere," Nebby continued on. He sounded wistful, almost sad. "I took the power of the sun, and Lunala, that of the moon."

"Yet what of the thing that remained between?" Necrozma asked. The voice was dreadful and threatening; fear-inducing. For a moment, Ash felt like he had been rooted to the spot he was standing upon, unable to take but a single step forward. "It took form. The eclipse. Void of all light."

"Like a prism…" Gladion spat out, and Ash noticed that he was unable to move as well. Regardless, things were starting to make sense. Bubbles rippled around the walls of the Ultra Space that were surrounding them there, and Ash took a breath in. He was afraid to look; afraid to see just what was inside.

"Necrozma. Death incarnate. Darkness incarnate. A manifestation of the eclipse caused by the moon and the sun," Nebby continued. He suddenly gasped, the majestic lion dropping to a knee from what appeared to be some sense of pain. Ash's eyes widened, not fully understanding just what was happening to him. He wasn't the only one. Lunala was hovering lower, now. "Our darkness, as it were. Long have we sought to keep him contained here in the Ultra Space, but our tiny forms lacked the strength..."

"A folly on your part," Necrozma spoke. As it floated forward, Lusamine walked with it, a smirk on her face as she, also, began to explain things to them, like she was chiding children. Guzma seemed unable to talk from her presence.

"By sealing Necrozma in the Ultra Space they created a balance of power to support it," she offered to them. That she was dispensing with the information only told Ash a singular thing: them knowing all of this didn't matter any longer. The bloodlust radiated off of her, concealed behind her smirk. "And then the storm came."

"Yes…that capricious wind…the man with honey hair and an aura of destruction. What a boon he was. Interesting…for a human," Necrozma chuckled out. Ash remained focused upon the creature as it seemingly phased in and out of reality, flickering eerily for a time. Ash swallowed once more. There was only one man that fit that description, one that he knew quite well. Finally, Ash looked up to one of the bubbles which had formed, and stared inside.

It was exactly as he expected, the image of Michael, just as he remembered, stood there at the Lake of the Moone. In his hands was the Moon Flute. To Ash, it felt like that memory, clearly a sharp one within the Ultra Space, took over everything, consuming all of them as the man that was Reeree's father raised the flute to his lips and played. It was sharp, and cruel; not at all beautiful. And when his lips stopped playing, darkness burst from the center of the dais there, as though it were a great flood that had been held back.

"So…you were sealed here. The tomes were right," Michael chuckled out, moving his fake glasses up his nose with a chuckle. He looked amused by it. "You seek freedom, being disposable. I can give you it! Pour your darkness out! Destroy this world!"

Ash watched in horror as the scene from six years ago played out. The darkness that was Necrozma attempted to gain freedom, reaching for their world, yet it was held back by the power of the two Cosmog, deep in the abyss. Michael watched the occurrence, grinning madly, like his lifelong dream had occurred.

"Unfortunately, he had acted prematurely, and without all the given information…yet he cared not for the damage that it would bring, then or now," Necrozma seemed to narrate. The memory continued to play out as though it were on a film reel, playing quickly in order to sear itself into Ash's eyes. How the two Cosmog were separated by Necrozma's attempt to break free. Yet in the meantime, their separation managed to close the portal off, only the prime Nihilego and Nebby remaining outside of it. The darkness was contained, yet so much of the essence that made Necrozma remained. "I was split…tied inexorably to the Ultra Space, and yet much of me had emerged to wreak havoc, rooted in but a few pockets of space."

"And so, a plan was set in motion. Our plan," Lusamine finished for Necrozma. She stopped, flicking her voluminous hair outwards with her ever-present smirk as she regarded them all. "Thanks to those meddlesome efforts from both of the Cosmog, the portal to get in and out of the Ultra Space, this wonderful place of colliding worlds, was sealed. The Moon Flute broke, of course, further complicating matters."

"No…" Clemont breathed, as though he'd reached some horrible realization that none of the others had yet come to. "No…that's…he…"

"Yessssss…" Necrozma hissed, sounding almost giddy from confirming Clemont's fear. The memory before them all faded away, just as Michael had grabbed hold of Nebby, and seemed to begin speaking to Nihilego. His words were what finally made Ash's eyes widen with such abject horror that he simply couldn't hold his anger back.

"I know what it's like…to have this filthy world take everything from your own," Michael spoke, grinning at Nihilego. He didn't look affected in the slightest by the creature's toxins. It further cemented the fact of just what kind of person Michael was: just like Necrozma, void of any and all light inside, seeking everything and anything to make his own wish a reality, and damn everyone else. "I know a way you can take it back. It would take time, but this world will crumble, and you will take it all for yourself, I guarantee it."

"He…you…" Serena was gasping out. Team Rocket were looking at each other in confusion, just the same as Hau, who shrugged at them with the same sense of cluelessness. Bonnie was shaking, while Gladion and Lillie looked to each other. They had obviously figured out that this was the man that had changed their entire lives; poisoned their mother in more ways than one. Turned her into a beast all of her own accord. It sickened both Ash and Serena together. "This whole time, it was all part of his plan."

"Of course it was," Lunala spoke, almost spitting the sentiment out, sounding furious at the void of space. "Necrozma is naught but destruction. A void that consumes what it will and disposes of the rest. While we remained, it was held in check, though over time, even we could not defend against the detritus that we had picked up in this space."

"Necrozma's power grew, and eventually, it became one with the Ultra Space, and our power could no longer hold it in place," Nebby said furiously, shaking almost as much as Bonnie was. Necrozma and Lusamine stopped their approach, the latter still smirking confidently at all of them, as though she'd managed quite the victory. Ash's fist clenched angrily, yet still he felt like his feet were unable to move. "When that day came, we expended ourselves and were separated, as you well know. But Necrozma lingered on, ever growing in power."

"And manufactured your own demise!" Necrozma boomed through the space. Ash looked to it, still unreadable from its void-like state, along with the fact that it continued to phase in and out of reality. It was trying to hold on, almost like it wanted to separate itself from the Ultra Space. Clemont breathed out, clearly noticing it as well. The prism continued to speak, however, keeping Ash fixated on it, in case it decided to suddenly strike back for whatever reason. At the very least, Ash could hear Clemont's mind whirring furiously with his thoughts. "I do have to thank you, however…working as predictably as Michael and Lusamine's plan said you would."

"Strife begets heroism. Heroism beckons the Tapus, calls them to order," Lusamine chuckled out. "When Michael acted six years ago, the Tapus were moved, and he knew then that in order to truly open the portal, to restore the Cosmog's power so that Solgaleo and Lunala could both be brought back to here, that new champions would need to be called again. So, the plan was to wait, and study, and ensure that all went as planned. It worked out perfectly."

"This was all a long game, then, wasn't it, mother?" Gladion shouted at her. Lillie looked to be quaking with her own sense of anger now. "You planned for six years to destroy our world for what? You manipulated us! Abused us! Cast everyone aside like they were tools for all this stupid crap!"

"That's all it was this whole time," Lillie breathed out. "You kept us there, under your thumb, because you knew what was going to happen. What he was trying to do, and you let him."

"You misunderstand, Lillie. I was going to take you into this beautiful world, where we could be a family again. It was going to be perfect," the woman said with a simpering tone, cocking her hips to the same side as her uplifted smirk. "Until this thing left, and then you got too sentimentally attached to our subject. Although, once that happened, it simply required a change in plans, and a bit of manipulation was necessary. Now, though, it hardly matters. Thanks to stirring things, Solgaleo and Lunala are here now."

"And at last our power is in balance…well, but for one mistake," Necrozma breathed, sounding proud and accomplished in the moment. If Ash could have associated a look with the beast, it would have been the same expression as the one he saw sitting on Lusamine's face, hard as it was to tell.

"You're tied to the Ultra Space," Clemont remarked. His finger flew forward, pointing towards the phasing Necrozma. He stepped out as well, showing no fear in the face of this monster. It stirred up the courage inside of Ash, and he stepped forward, as well, the rest of the line moving boldly with him. "That's the real reason that you needed them here. As long as they're in the Ultra Space, you can begin absorbing their powers. But it leaves you with an even bigger weakness.

"As long as you're tied to it, we just need to bring you down!"

"Foolish sentiment! I have become the Ultra Space! The rivers, the memories, their power, the Beasts themselves are all mine! And once I take all that these two have to give, and devour your world, at last I will have my free world! Mine! No other!"

"Oh, shut up already," Hau said, throwing his hands behind his head. "You keep talking about all this freedom stuff, but you're forgetting a pretty big detail, buddy." Lusamine's smirk dropped, as she considered Hau with a sense of disdain. The boy was just continuing to grin in the face of that. Team Rocket picked up the slack.

"You can have all the power in the world, bozo, but you still have to deal with us!"

"And we're not letting you take the world! That's for Team Rocket, you hear?"

"So, let's do dis, twoips!"

"Such petulance…I am Necrozma! I am the Ultra Space! Your world is to be naught but a pile of darkness and ashes, its light gone, blending its memories with those of mine! Perfection!"

"Perfection!" Lusamine cried at the same time, her voice practically blending with Necrozma's. It told Ash everything he needed to know. If the longer their own group stayed in the Ultra Space, the more powerful Necrozma grew…then, they would just have to destroy the creature before it could grow so powerful that it would consume their world. "Long have I worked for this, that perfect world of mine. Our partnership has been most fruitful."

"Your partnership with that thing, huh?" Guzma asked, pushing past their line, Golisopod weakly alongside him as he stared down the woman that had so controlled him, the same as her children. Lillie and Gladion were already in battle stances. "So, that's what it is, huh, Lusamine? You manipulated me and my brats for this? For a lie?"

"It wasn't a lie, Guzma," Lusamine said, still simpering. "I truly did admire your strength. Without it, I'd have never gotten this far. But there's no need for any further clutter in my world. Simple. Beautiful. Empty. You, my dear, stupid oaf, just don't fit that."

"I don't, huh…?" Guzma breathed out. He looked down for a moment, his fists shaking, before snapping his head up and glaring at Lusamine with a scowl. "That's fine with me. I'd rather live in a world with my boys an' girls, than in a world with nothin' in it! At least I didn't throw away my family!"

"What is family but a meaningless concept? We'll be able to create anything we want, or nothing at all! There is such beauty in that!" Lusamine said, her arms spreading wide as her psychotic grin blossomed further. "I need nothing else! I want nothing else! Necrozma desires the same!"

"In nothingness, true freedom awaits! Total null! Total void of the light, just as I am! Now, Solgaleo, Lunala, return to me, and all we desire will be ours!"

"Mother!" Lillie shouted, walking forward as well. Pikachu cried out, like he sensed danger, and Ash advanced, stopping her from approaching the woman. He also pulled back on Guzma as the substantiated form that was Necrozma began to melt away again, becoming wispy, just as it had when it was a shadow, in the memory. That darkness seeped across the floor, enveloping Lusamine and Nihilego both.

"What is…going on…?" Serena gasped.

"Come…return to the void! To that wish of nothing!" Lusamine's voice was mixed in with Necrozma's, like a blending of personalities that was frightening to the heart and mind. Bonnie cried out softly, appropriately freaked out by the sight. She definitely wasn't the only one. Ash could only stare at the swirling darkness, tying all three of the individuals together. Lusamine began to laugh, her voice mixed with Necrozma's.

"They're…they're fusing!" Bonnie yelled out, and Clemont grabbed her. All of their Pokémon turned around and clasped on to their trainers as the darkness blasted outward.

"Gah!" shouted Nebby, and Ash turned his head, peering through a crack in his Pokémon to see that the lion was suddenly held thrall by the darkness. Necrozma was truly planning to absorb them. Hau was shouting out for Lunala, indicating that the same thing was occurring with her. Lillie was screaming for her mother, but Ash held her fast until the darkness was sucked inwards, vanishing into a void of silence. There were a few seconds of nothing but the sound of breathing. Ash looked up as his Pokémon pulled away.

"Nebby!" Lillie cried. Sure enough, both Nebby and Lunala were restrained by black orbs, unable to do anything; they couldn't even attempt to break free. Ash snapped his gaze over to where their enemies had once been, seeing the most horrifying vision appear before him. Tentacles waving around like an enormous black jellyfish, long and threatening. In the center of the undulating bubble that would be the jellyfish's head was Lusamine, the smirk still on her face and her hair black. On top of it, the beast before them was huge, dwarfing all of them in size and presence. Had Ash been ignorant, he'd have said that Lusamine had lost all sense of self. Maybe in some part, she had, but if that were true, it meant that the only way to break through to her… "Mother! Mother!"

"That thing isn't our mother…hasn't been our mother a long time!" Gladion spat out. The jellyfish floated down, casting a shadow over all of them and letting out an ominous laugh that would have chilled Ash to the core. However, he didn't let it. There were things he needed to protect. "She's just a beast now!"

"A beast, Gladion?" Lusamine's voice echoed, still fused with Necrozma's. "I like the sound of that. The Motherbeast. That's how you view me, is it not? Now, be a good boy for once in your life…and do what your mother tells you. Fade into nothingness."

"I think we'll pass!" Ash shouted. He let go of Lillie, now, and stepped forward. Serena moved forward, tossing his hat forward from her bag, and he caught it, placing it on his head with a glare in Lusamine's direction. "You want a world of nothingness, then you can join Michael where he went for his trouble! This is our world we're fighting for, and we won't let you have it. Not for a single second!"

"Chupika!" Pikachu called out, leading all of his Pokémon forward furiously to stand at his side. They weren't alone, everyone facing the Motherbeast before them. Ash raised his fist, all of his allies and himself prepared for the battle that would make or break everything.

"You want your world? Then stop trying to destroy things to do it. 'Cause we'll just do the same as we've always done and put an end to you!" he declared. If Lusamine was affected, or cared, she didn't show it. The tentacles rose up and two large orbs appeared: one a fiery inferno, the other a pale moon. They glowed brightly, pulsing as Lusamine smirked at them from within the large bubble, her feet as tentacles down below. She was beyond words. "Everyone! This is it! Our final battle!"

"Let's do it!" Hau said, grinning wildly. Everyone stepped forward. The Motherbeast hovered there, no more words spoken, like their individualities, their very identities, were being stripped away and dissolving into the nothingness they so craved. But Ash wasn't giving in, and nor were the people standing next to him; even Lillie, who straightened her back.

"Very well, mother. I'm sorry, but this is the end," she said. Then she slipped her backpack off. They were all ready. The Motherbeast struck. Lillie spoke first. "Everyone, scatter! Don't stay in the same place!"

From the brightly glowing tentacles, there emerged a silver glow, summoning orbs that were like metal balls. It gave a horrific screeching sound and then fired. Ash grabbed Lillie and Guzma both, tossing them both to the floor with himself, while the others scattered. The attacks blasted all over the place, absorbed by the walls, and Ash looked up to see his Pokémon were all fine…relatively speaking.

"Greninja, Water Shuriken! Aim for the top!" Ash yelled. He could feel Greninja move, grabbing for his giant shuriken and tossing it right for the shell where Lusamine was enclosed. Ash watched, waiting to see what would happen. The shuriken struck, and bounced off instantly. A loud laugh resounded from Lusamine's figure as one of her tentacles whipped out, slamming into Greninja's chest and knocking him aside. Ash winced.

"Are you all right?" Lillie asked, placing a hand on his back. Guzma and his Golisopod were wheezing, still exhausted from the earlier fight, while Ash nodded.

"Just fine. Guzma, stay down!"

"No way, kid! I didn't defy the president just for you to-"

"Stay down, Guzma! Silvally, Iron Head!" Gladion roared. Ash twisted his body to see Silvally charging full force for their opponent, gleaming in silver. It struck head on, just in time for Inkay to soar out and cut with a Psybeam all along its surface. Lusamine's laughter told Ash all the good that it was doing. Ash pushed himself up, helping Lillie do the same, and the two nodded.

"Komala, Rollout!" Lillie roared out. Her eyes flicked over to Nebby, and even Ash grit his teeth. They looked to be in pain, held fast and as if their very energy was being sucked dry. This was going to become a race of time. In fact, as he stood, he saw that the space they were in seemed to be growing…bigger.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled, throwing his hand out. He wasn't the only one ordering for a bolt of lightning to be sent the Motherbeast's way.

"Pipi, you, too! Charge it up!"

"Vikavolt, join them with Charge Beam!" Pikachu sped along the ground while his companions all zipped forward swiftly, cutting through the air. The Motherbeast's tentacles whipped out, but all three were ready for the inevitable assault. Pikachu jumped upwards, over one of the lower tentacles, while the others flew to the side. "Now! Luxray, Bunnelby, get ready with Wild Charge!"

"Lux-ray!" Luxray howled. He started running forward. The rest of the trainers were drawing closer in a cluster, each of them observing the Motherbeast's rather unruly movements. Ash turned to his other Pokémon and nodded, telling them to get on the move. Pikachu's body sparked with electricity and he skidded to a stop to send his Thunderbolt flying out through the air. It was joined with Pipi's, as well as Vikavolt's Charge Beam. They combined, becoming a streaking hot bolt of lightning that seemed to pierce through the Motherbeast.

"Yes!" Lillie cheered, especially as Komala bounced upwards, striking on the hard shell that covered Lusamine. She bit her lip, clearly observing something. "If we can break that…maybe we can…"

"No time to think about that, Lillie," Gladion scolded his sister, jumping back as a tentacle slammed down on the ground. It may not have been using an attack on them, but from the fact that the tentacle hitting made an actual sound in this muted place, Ash could tell how dangerous it was. "Multi-Attack!"

"Hrrrrrra!" Silvally roared, charging forward as it, too, blazed with all manner of lightning around its body. As the Motherbeast tried to recover, Silvally joined with Luxray and Bunnelby, striking at the very body of the beast. It screeched loudly and its tentacles flew upward, glowing red.

"Here it comes, guys!" Hau yelled. Lillie jumped away and Ash ducked low, beginning to shout out his next commands.

"Use Leaf Blade, Decidueye! Toss them at the protective covering!" Ash screamed. The tentacles all reached the height of their glow and fired outward with red beams. Greninja rushed forward, summoning his kunai, and Ash did the same. Serena cried out as the attack hit Ash and pushed him back, making him grit his teeth. "Now, Toucannon! Hyper Voice!"

"Toucaaaaaaaah!" Toucannon cried out, sending the red waves of sound colliding upon the beast. It seemed to shudder from it, dipping slightly. At the same moment, both Decidueye and Primarina were shooting forward, one with a Leaf Blade that it tossed at the shield. Like with the Water Shuriken, it bounced off. Primarina slammed into it with her water-veiled form moments later, but bounded off with recoil.

"We either can't break that shield, or we'll need a lot more force than what we have!" Serena pointed out. Guzma was starting to stand, but wincing from the earlier blow. The Motherbeast was barely attacking, yet still…

Ash clenched his fist. "Lycanroc, hit it with Stone Edge! Passimian, Kommo-o, attack right now!"

His Pokémon moved in perfect concert, showcasing the team they'd become over the months. Lycanroc dashed along, right underneath the beast, howling as stones jutted upward, impacting with the underside of their opponent, before she dashed out again. Passimian and Kommo-o appeared at the sides, in the air. One's scales were quivering, firing out with dangerous sound while Passimian aimed a Shadow Ball. No matter the density of sound or hardness of the berry, the shield didn't crack as the attacks made explosive contact, and the Motherbeast didn't falter, like it regarded them as insignificant. That was becoming a problem.

"Hey, twerps, you're the ones with the motto of never giving up! Crabrawler, into Bewear's arms and use Bubblebeam!" James called out. Ash looked over to Team Rocket. They seemed to have gotten hit by the Power Gem, from how ripped their clothes looked, yet they continued to truck on. If anyone knew how to take hits, it was Team Rocket.

"Spin, Bewear, spin!" Jessie laughed out manically. Bewear practically hugged Crabrawler and began to do exactly as her trainer asked, spinning rapidly, like she was dancing in a performance. Silver orbs were flying from her along with a cascade of bubbles. The tentacles moved upward, knocking them away like they were harmless projectiles. "Now, twerpette! Show us you mean business! Bewear can take it!"

"Jessie…" Serena said worriedly, but then she nodded. "Braixen, light Bewear on fire with Flamethrower!"

"Braixen!" Braixen agreed, aiming her wand for the spinning Bewear. The Flamethrower rushed through the air, cutting through Bewear as it made contact with one of the tentacles. Ash pumped a fist, yet the next moment later, it looked like the tentacle was barely damaged. Bewear, however, was on fire, and on a spinning collision course for the Motherbeast. Ash cast his eyes around, noticing his other three Pokémon were on the move. Pikachu had jumped directly on Toucannon's back as she soared around the air of the space.

"Cool idea! Incineroar, Darkest Lariat!" Hau said. Incineroar growled with a twitching lip and began to spin, just as Bewear was, black flames surrounding both arms. He and what seemed like his female counterpart both spun forward, and in seconds they both made contact, hitting the tentacles at the side and cutting through them.

"Now, Pikachu!" Ash yelled. "Iron Tail!"

"Chuuuuu pika!" Pikachu cried. He jumped off of Toucannon from above. Lusamine's head snapped up, and her few tentacles that hadn't been damaged went flying for Pikachu. At the same time, Silvally charged for underneath the beast, claw glowing its usual blood red. Bonnie ran forward, rearing back and throwing Dedenne right for the tentacles encroaching on Pikachu.

"Parabolic Charge!" she cried, tears flinging out from her eyes. "This is for Rotom!"

"Denenenenene!" Dedenne chattered out angrily, rubbing his cheeks as the electricity gathered within him. He stopped in the middle and sent the orb flying out. The sparks and shocks blasted around him, stopping the tentacles enough for Pikachu crack down on the top of the bubble with Iron Tail. He didn't bound off, but nor did he make a dent. Silvally swung up with its red claw from below. The beast screeched in pain once more.

"We have to be making some kind of dent in this thing…" Clemont commented. Ash looked to him, noticing that his glasses had been cracked in the scuffle. It was so difficult to keep track of everything that had happened through the battle with the chaos of the flailing tentacles. "So, let's keep trying! Bug Buzz!"

"Take the chance and use Wood Hammer!"

"Greninja, Aerial Ace!" Ash called out. He heard another command from Serena in the meantime, but didn't have the presence to focus on just what it all was. Greninja ran forward, his glowing limb seemingly grabbing on to Komala and tossing him upwards. The Normal type spun through the air, bringing his green wood chunk hammering down a couple times on the shield. A tentacle raised to swipe it off, but Vikavolt had sped in, soundwaves pulsing from its body to stop the assault, a counter that caused the beast to shiver. The sun and moon that were hanging pulsed, and the Motherbeast seemed to suddenly regain vitality. Greninja kicked up, driving the beast a little higher in the air.

"Is that all?" Lusamine's voice taunted, mixed in with Necrozma's wicked tones. Her smirk was still omnipresent through it all, like it was frozen in place upon her. "I thought you had more to you, humans! What a waste! Mirror Shot!"

Greninja backed up, and once more, they all scattered. The tentacles glowed silver, the orbs appearing yet again, and they shot all around. Some were absorbed by the walls, others ricocheted off in numerous directions. One, however, aimed right for Decidueye, who prepared to intercept it, but seemed just a fraction too slow.

"Cannnah!" Toucannon suddenly squawked, using Flame Charge to move quickly. She got between the metal orb and Decidueye, the attack striking her body. She went rigid for a second and then dropped. Ash whipped his pokeball out as Decidueye kneeled at her side.

"Kooroo? !" he cried in concern, but Toucannon didn't move, utterly spent. The Arrow Quill Pokémon's body shook angrily and he stood. The next second, he'd disappeared, reappearing underneath the beast, his body glowing blue. Then he kicked upwards, sending wind rippling in that direction. The attack was certainly powerful, driving the beast further upward and making it howl in pain. Ash took the chance to call Toucannon back, which seemed like a signal of sorts. Everyone was on the attack again, sending as many projectile attacks out at the dome as they could. It was like that was source of everything. If they pulled Lusamine out, the merging could be undone. Necrozma would be finished. Ash knew it. The only question was how?

Decidueye kicked up once again, only this time his speed didn't allow him to break away before the next attack came. A tentacle shot out, grabbing ahold of him and holding him in place. Something else began to charge up on the tentacles, like lasers of a brilliant rainbow color. Ash wasn't the only one that noticed. "Incoming! Greninja, free Decidueye with Cut!"

"Ninja!" Greninja called, zipping forward. He was fast, cutting across the tentacle with his kunai and causing Decidueye to drop down and pull back, freed. Pipi soared forward, darting through the writhing tentacles that were raised before punching down on the protective covering with a glowing fist. It shuddered, and Ash could swear that he saw a crack. At least, for a second he did, until the sun and the moon, hanging there like great orbs, pulsed and Nebby cried out with pain. Then the crack was gone.

"Ahahahahahaha!" Lusamine cackled out and the tentacles almost seemed to bend backwards and fire the lasers right into the sky, towards the ceiling of the space. They soared upwards, joining together, and Ash felt a hand pull on the back of his shirt. When he glanced that way, he saw Guzma.

"Ya can't win like this! Not against her," he told Ash with a heaving breath.

"Well, we have to try! Block them! Tri Attack!" Gladion wasn't the only one with the idea. Chespin was sending rocketing Pin Missiles out and Primarina was attacking with Bubblebeam. The lasers in the air split off like streaking meteors, set to rain down on them, more numerous than they could hope to counter, even with a Seed Bomb and another Bubblebeam joined in. Clemont grabbed Bonnie, while Komala rolled to Lillie's side.

"Pikachu, Counter Shi-" Ash's command didn't get off. The lasers hit them all in a powerful barrage. Ash was flung backwards, colliding with Guzma and Gladion both. Hau and Team Rocket became a mess of limbs while Lillie crouched, gripping at her knees as her outfit began to be ripped apart. Lusamine's maddening laugh increased.

"Primarina!" Serena shouted, half in a plea and half in fear. Ash looked up in time to see Primarina sailing through the air, flinging an orb of water outward that hung there for a moment and then once more broke apart, showering down on all of them in a light rain. It was amazing, the way Ash felt like his wounds were healing as the droplets touched his skin, and his Pokémon, especially Pikachu, who'd gotten hit, perked right up. However, Primarina slammed downward, striking on the floor with an actually audible tumble. "No! Primarina!"

"See?" Guzma said, pushing the boys off of him and bringing himself to stand. "That thing don' attack often. But when it does, it's gonna hurt! And it keeps healin' over and over, cuz it's takin' from them!" At this statement, Guzma pointed both of his hands over to Nebby and Lunala. Ash wasn't sure what to take from that, though Clemont gave a little gasp that showed he understood. Ash just turned his eyes on the Motherbeast, and suddenly it slowed, at least to his eyes, if not in reality.

He was seeing its movements. It had to take time to attack, in order to control all those limbs as one…and while it was recovering, the tentacles served as a guarding barrier. Meanwhile…

"The sun and moon it created…they're meant to draw in Nebby and Lunala's power! But they're not real! Just receptacles that are part of the Motherbeast," Clemont pointed out. That told Ash everything, and he grinned. His Pokémon caught the grin and it soon went around to their entire group. "If we stop them, we can free our two friends and stop it from healing all at once!"

"Then we just have to be careful!" Ash said, slamming his fist into his hand. "Hau, Team Rocket, you guys take the sun! Lillie, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, you all destroy the moon! Me, Gladion and Guzma will smash that thing right down its center!"

"Got it!" they all cried, splitting off into the three groups. Lusamine watched them from within her bubble, like she thought they were adorable to all be scurrying around like that. Ash's Pokémon returned to his side while Serena had also returned Primarina to her pokeball. She nodded at him, and ran off with the others. Ash made sure to have a good view of each group's target while Guzma and Gladion stood at his side.

"Can't believe the three of us are teaming up like this," Gladion noted with a soured chuckle. Guzma cracked his knuckles a bit.

"Not my preferred bit, either, kid. But I ain't lettin' the president do that to my brats," Guzma snapped out. Golisopod looked exhausted, but nodded to Greninja with a shuddering breath, ready for battle. "She's way beyond savin'…"

"Who cares about any of that? Right now, let's end this!" Ash called, punching forward. His arm movement was a signal to all of his Pokémon, calling for those that remained to act, surging forward. Guzma also called out for a First Impression. Golisopod's claws glowed green, and it ran right in for the center. Two tentacles rolled inwards, but the others aimed to stop those at the sides. No one was deterred.

"Bubblebeam, Crabrawler! Make it max force and I'll give you extra berries when we're out of here!" James called. Crabrawler took to that with enthusiasm, opening both claws wide and firing off with the powerful bubbles towards the sun. He wasn't alone in attacking, as Pipi charged up her body and sent a Thunderbolt flying. The two attacks struck the orb, and the sphere around Nebby cracked a little.

"You impudent foooools!" Lusamine screeched, more of her voice mixing with Necrozma's. It was like every attack she made erased more and more of her own self. The tentacles glowed red again, though only those on the left side aimed for any particular target, in this case the hammering Crabrawler and Pipi. They fired off the Power Gem. At the same moment, Ash's Pokémon had reached the center of the Motherbeast.

"Pummel that shield and the bottom!" Ash called out. Silvally had joined at Golisopod's side, slashing up with its red claw, mixed in with the eerie green. The Motherbeast shook, the attack that was flailing around Serena's side shooting up into the air instead, missing the mark that was her, Clemont, Bonnie and Lillie. The same couldn't be said for Team Rocket's side. Incineroar was crossing his arms to block the powerful attack, but a red beam barreled right for Crabrawler.

"Bewaaaaaa!" Bewear cried out, jumping through the air with amazing alacrity and landing in front of the blast, taking it head on. Jessie cried out, stomping angrily as more of the sun cracked. At the same time, Pikachu sent an Electro Ball soaring onto the bubble shield, where it seemed to have a chink in its armor.

"No one hurts my beautiful Bewear and gets away with it! Pin those tentacles with Leech Seed!" Ash's eyes widened. They hadn't thought of that! In fact, Clemont, watching from the other side as a Flamethrower hurtled towards the moon, had his own ideas.

"Chespin, Bunnelby, hold the tentacles with your ears and Vine Whip, hurry!"

"Meanwhile, keep hammering at it! Close Combat! Poison Jab!" Ash threw in.

"You use Razor Shell!" Guzma roared. It was still strange to have the man by his side, but Ash was grateful for the assistance as Golisopod leapt upwards, his watery blade coming forth. Plants erupted from the ground on Team Rocket's side, snagging on all of the tentacles but for the two that hung towards the center, swinging back and forth to try and prevent the middle group's assault.

Passimian and Kommo-o leapt up top, and Passimian punched and kicked forward rapidly on the shield. It was still repairing itself, but was weakening bit by bit. Kommo-o's arms glowed purple and his own punches came more and more fierce in a rapid succession. Greninja retained distance, while Lycanroc slammed into the Motherbeast over and over with Accelerock.

"You insignificant pests. I already told you to get out!" Lusamine yelled. The two inner tentacles swung in, electrifying themselves as Passimian and Kommo-o dropped. A charging orb of electricity was formed and then blasted out as a beam.

"Lycrr!" Lycanroc growled, speeding around with her Accelerock and moving right inwards, leaping in front of the blow to protect her boys, just as Toucannon had. Ash whipped his pokeball out before she could hit the ground from the Charge Beam consuming her entire form. Her body was already smoking.

"Braixen, Psyshock!" Serena yelled from her side of the battlefield. Ash tilted his head just a little, noticing that Chespin and Bunnelby were both struggling to hold the tentacles by bundling them together. Vikavolt was soaring forward with bursts of electricity, hitting the tentacles over and over, as if attempting to break them off of their foe. Braixen, however, slashed both of her claws, six purple streams flying out.

"Rollout!" Lillie called, her breath heaving and sweating. In fact, Ash noticed they were all sweating from the exertion of that battle's work. Guzma dropped to a knee as the two center tentacles whapped outward, hitting Passimian and Kommo-o. Pikachu called for them worriedly, but flipped around with a mighty Iron Tail to beat them away from himself.

"Combine with Parabolic Charge!" Bonnie commanded fiercely. Dedenne, already heaving with breaths, leapt forward to send his orb of electricity out. Bonnie and Lillie clapped their hands together as Komala collided with the orb in the middle of his Rollout. He sparked and slammed into the moon's surface. It seemed to be an especially powerful combination, especially when the six beams of Psyshock struck the center, hammering into the surface like nails.

"Now, Clemont!" Serena yelled. Feeling that group was okay, Ash turned back to the center, where the tentacles were waving around wildly. He could only hear Clemont's yell by that point.

"Wild Charge!" the inventor screamed. Ash gripped his fist, and suddenly noticed something. The beast's movements were growing more erratic, almost like the two minds that were in control were diverging from one another the closer the attacks got to Lusamine. Whether it meant she had a mind of her own and didn't want to do this, Ash wasn't sure, but it gave them the chance to strike back.

"Greninja, Aerial Ace, keep those tentacles back!" Ash yelled. Guzma and Gladion screamed their own commands from next to him. The tentacles sailed inward as Passimian and Kommo-o came upwards to jab into the center of the Motherbeast. Ash moved his body in tandem with his Water type, kicking away the tentacles. It provided just the opening for Golisopod to ram through with X-Scissor while Silvally electrified the other with its Multi-Attack.

"Raaaaaay!" Luxray growled from the other side, slamming powerfully into the moon that was there, before following it up by biting in with a Thunder Fang. Ash watched as the moon cracked and then shattered into multiple pieces.

"Nooooooooo!" Lusamine howled, the two voices starting to diverge from one another in the pained scream.

"She's…she is still inside there," Guzma said in surprise. Gladion scowled a bit.

"Maybe a part of her…but she's still Lusamine," Gladion spat at the man that was once his boss. "She's still twisted."

"Oh, not good," Ash spoke, watching as the tentacles broke out from their previous confinement, spurred on by rage and waving around ferally, like they didn't care who they struck or hit. They tore away from the Leech Seed that had been holding them there. On one side, it was charging up a Mirror Shot that glowed silver, while on the other side, the rainbow-colored lasers had been formed. The two minds were controlling two separate aspects of the body now that it had been weakened. Even the attacks seemed weaker, though still powerful. "Passimian, Kommo-o! Protect them!"

"Passi!" Passimian called out, his copies appearing all over the area. Team Rocket was still busy attacking the giant flaming orb alongside Hau, as a Psybeam and Dark Pulse hit into it. Jessie turned and pointed right for Ash, just as a shadow flitted overhead. Within seconds, Lunala had slammed into the Motherbeast with her full body, free at last.

"Now, Necrozma, this ends here! We shall take our power from you! Return this world to the state it should be! Your 'nothingness' ends here!"

"No…no…I am nothingness! I am eternal!" The Mirror Shot fired off at this claim. It hit Luxray, who spun through the air and tumbled to the ground. Clemont returned him and whipped around to face the Motherbeast.

"Which one's speaking? Lusamine…or Necrozma?" the lemon blond asked.

"Who cares, Clemont? Now that Lunala is free, just attack it!" Bonnie shouted. Dedenne appeared to agree, keeping up his appearance of strength despite his tiny body sagging with exhaustion. Serena also ran forward.

"She's right! Hidden Power!" Serena yelled. That command, showcasing her beauty in battle, was the cry for those available to strike swiftly for the center.

"Yeah, and don't interfere! We've got this!" Jessie smirked out in Ash's direction. The raven-haired trainer turned to her, wondering just what she meant. That's when that side's tentacles fired the rainbow of lasers. Incineroar cloaked itself in fire and charged upwards, aiming for the sun and diving into it, unaffected by its obvious heat. Once it was there, Ash noticed a black spot blossoming inside of it. The lasers coalesced up above and began raining downwards. Hau stood with Team Rocket, each of them standing their ground against the attacks.

"You just have a job to do!" James said with a nod. Hau grinned at all of them as his own response.

"Team Rocket always cleans up house! You got dis, twoip! Now, Wobbuffet!" Meowth said, and all of them there saluted. Ash shook his head, already knowing what they were planning to do. The lasers began to strike, obliterating Passimian's copies, even striking the real one, as well as Kommo-o, until Lunala swiped her wing, knocking away and blocking the lasers from striking the center.

"WOBBUFFET!" Wobbuffet cried proudly as the lasers battered his blue body without a single sense of remorse. His body glowed, sagging just a little as Team Rocket were also assailed. They didn't move an inch, and there was a brief second of silence. Then Wobbuffet fired with such power, it pierced right through the sun and Incineroar snapped his dark, burning limbs apart, breaking the sun right in half. Ash turned right around.

"Greninja, plunge your Water Shuriken right now! Everyone, attack!" Ash yelled, running right at the Motherbeast. A cracking, shattering sound indicated that Nebby had broken free, bounding over the fallen Team Rocket and Hau to sink a fiery fang into the writhing tentacles. The beast screeched, its excess limbs flailing all around. Greninja leapt up top as Braixen, Pikachu, Dedenne, Vikavolt, Golisopod and Silvally all rammed upwards for the center from below. Ash called his pokeballs out to take Passimian and Kommo-o back, their fallen forms also smoking on the ground. Then the Ninja Pokémon struck, plunging the Water Shuriken straight inside the dome surrounding Lusamine. She gasped, almost like she'd been stabbed, as it began to crack. The Motherbeast's healing was gone; now was their time to end this!

"You shall take our power no longer! Necrozma, your end is now!"

"No…no…" Lusamine cried out, the voices once more sounding separate, on the verge of a collapse. Ash whipped to Decidueye.

"Now, use Spirit Shackle! Drive it in! Everyone, one final push! Let's end this!" Ash called. Everyone there came to stand by him, except for those that had fallen. Even Nebby and Lunala began to charge up their own attacks. Decidueye flipped upward, passing Greninja as he leapt up high and aimed his arrow, and then he fired. "Pikachu, Electro Ball!"

That singular command led to a cascade of following commands from his friends. Braixen's Flamethrower shot out, combining with Nebby's own, far more powerful Flamethrower. Dedenne seemed too tired to do much, but Bunnelby and Chespin pitched in with their projectile attacks, while Vikavolt fired off a Charge Beam. Guzma and Golisopod hung back, seeming spent, while Komala flipped into the beam of energy, rolling along with force as Silvally sent a Tri Attack at it. The attacks all combined together, forming a large beam that nearly eclipsed the beast and was sent rippling through the air. Then, the blistering blow struck the bubble-like covering.

A single moment passed where Ash heard his breath rise and fall. Then he reached out for Serena's hand, who grabbed on to Lillie's, and on and on in a chain between all of them there. Seconds later, there was the explosion followed by the horrendous screaming, endless screaming…yet no sound of shattering. Smoke billowed upwards, and Ash peered through it.

"You…no…This is…This is…my space! My beautiful world!" Lusamine screeched, grunting and groaning with pain. Lillie winced, but Gladion held his ground. "I will not…I will n-not let you take my b-beautiful world of n-nothingnesssss from me!"

"Take?" Ash asked, stepping forward now and bringing the others with him. His hand dropped from Serena's. "You're taking our world from us! You're trying to use destruction to bring about the creation you want! That's no way to create at all! You can't save anything, or make anything beautiful, by destroying things! That's where Michael went wrong."

"Silence…humaaaan!" Necrozma, clearly the dominant one, roared. Its tentacles whipped out, while inside the bubble, Lusamine was clutching her head, screaming loudly. The tentacles all glowed different colors, as though it was unsure of what attack to use nor on what target or where. Suddenly, a beam fired, like the light of the moon from a radiant Lunala, piercing through one side's tentacles. In the same vein, a brilliantly radiant Nebby shot forward like a flaming meteor to pin down the other side with its giant paws. The Motherbeast's attacks went off, firing randomly, yet those two strained against the blows that struck them, groaning.

"Nebby!" Lillie yelled, stepping forward worriedly. Ash, however, turned towards the creature that opposed them, the one who had caused all the pain from Michael's plan, and faced it. He held his Z-Ring up.

"That's what you'll never understand! Or grow from!" Ash yelled. Next to him, Serena and Gladion all raised their own Z-Rings up, causing the others to stare in awe. Lillie watched a moment, and then joined in on the effort, her fist raising high and proud while she stared up at her mother. "Because this isn't just for ourselves! It's for everybody! We're working to protect our world! It's the exact reason…

"You'll never beat us!" all four of the champion Z-Ring bearers yelled out to Necrozma. The Motherbeast stopped writhing for a second as the Z-Rings pulsed with light. Then, as one, the champions yelled out, "Guardian deities of Alola! Answer our call! Protect our world!"

There was a moment where the Z-Rings flashed with yellow light which nearly enveloped the Ultra Space, the same as those of the crystals given to them by the Tapus. Then, with a sharp cry of power, those summoned guardian deities did just that, answering their call and arriving in the Ultra Space with a flash, prepared to deliver the final blow in the battle for their world. Along the walls, memories in the Ultra Space rippled all around them.


Author's Note: Whew! That was by far the longest battle I've ever had written against a single opponent. It was almost 5,000 words! Easy enough when you write an eleven-on-one battle. I hope it played out well. It was a bit different for a final battle, and not entirely done yet, either. This wasn't just "let's beat the crap out of each other" but a race against time and a whole group effort; sort of a puzzle boss, if you will. I hope that came through, and that you enjoyed it. I tried to make it good, but I always question myself!

On the other notes, obviously everything about Necrozma in this story is explained here, so that should all make sense, as I'd built to it. Likewise, it was the one that bonded Lusamine with Nihilego, because that makes more sense to me than just the two of them. Plus, I wanted them to battle the Motherbeast, and not do what the games did by making you only fight her Pokémon team. Really, I just hope that the final battle was enjoyable as the climax comes to an end next chapter! We're nearly there!

And since we're nearly there, but not quite, there are still people I need to thank, mainly a huge thanks to Amourshiper35, Nina The Fangirl, Tenzalucard123, Rajiv, aliensinnoh, ultimateCCC, FantasyLover88, Gehatik, ChE clarinetist, AdvancedAlto, The Wind God of the Leaf, Alexandria Prime, Omegaz, Cottonmouth25, The Aura Gardian, potat lasaro, XDiamondX90, thatsmybusiness43, AmourshippingCanon, TheEnigmatic97, TheShapeH31 and 1 guest for reviewing. This has been a wild ride so far; thank you for taking it with me. To show that thanks, please Review and Dare to Be Silly.