Chapter 29 – The Darkness Awakens
[A/N] Arceus.
I honestly just don't even know what to say about this chapter. Forget chapters, this is one of the longest pieces of writing that I have ever done. 9,000 words is just absurdity for me, and this chapter has so much content in it that it makes my head burst. Honestly, there's not much else I can say.
I have some stuff to say, but almost all of it is spoilers, so I'm putting it at the bottom. Now, for the reviews.
Amourshipping Guest – Thanks for the support. Erin is in this chapter, and hopefully this update satisfies you.
MiraculousInfinityZie - :D Thank you so much!
Skitty4 – Thanks for the support!
Finally, before we begin, I feel like I need to put a warning here. This chapter absolutely deserves the T rating. There is some graphic violence, and a lot of people die. Warnings aside, I really hope that you enjoy, and review at the bottom of the screen.
Ash's Perspective – Route 27
Ash gulped as a mass panic ran through the stadium. Evacuate? Why is Serena on the intercom? Charizard spiraled up into the air carrying Pikachu, Ash and Gary as the stadium began to fracture beneath them. Thousands of flashes rose into the air as panicked trainers trainers released flying types to desperately try to get away. Others made a mad dash for the main walkway only to find that their path was blocked as tournament staff across the stadium tore off disguises to reveal black clothing. His eyes widened in recognition as he saw the figures. "Those are J's men!"
Gary poked Ash as the ground rumbled even more. "We have to get to Elle, Clemont, and Bonnie! If J is here, nobody is safe!"
Ash nodded, and he wildly scanned the stadium for any sign of his friends. Pikachu bristled on his shoulder as sparks flew from his cheeks. Dedenne's response sparked back, and the electric mouse said something to Charizard. The flame Pokemon nodded, and tucked his wings in as he went into a spiraling nose dive towards the stands.
Behind Ash, two Pokemon flew out of the wreckage of the VIP box. Gardevoir glowed with a brilliant psychic light as she exerted the limits of her power. As a flock of humans and Pokemon fled the stadium by the air, a fourth of the people remaining were lifted into the air by a massive psychic and were lifted high into the air and deposited outside of the stadium.
As Charizard rocketed towards the stands, Ash screamed, "Everybody use protect now!" Charizard flipped over just as he was about to collide right where Clemont, Bonnie, and Elle were all sitting and mustered the largest protect he possibly could to cover fifty people in Ash's immediate vicinity. The two Pokemon in the air did the same, touching down and each summoning their own protects.
The stadium gave one final rumble, then the entire battlefield exploded. Intense power blew outwards from the field in all directions as a second detonation with the force of a missile added to the blast. Even through the protect, Ash could feel the power of the blow, sending him skidding backwards down Charizard's back into Gary. White light flooded his vision, making it impossible to see as he felt Charizard straining beneath him. When the white light faded, Ash gaped at the scene of devastation that was what had been the stadium.
As twenty or so protects flickered out, the rest of the stadium was virtually gone. The battlefield was a pile of rubble at the bottom of a thirty foot crater. The stands and seating had been obliterated, heaps of molten plastic and metal. A massive cloud of dust obscured the air around him, and the air felt suffocating as it seeped around him. Ash felt his stomach twist as he stared around him in horror. But- but how? What happened?
Ash and Gary slid off of Charizard's back as Clemont, Bonnie, and Elle shakily got to their feet from the stands. In each of their faces, a matching stare of horror and despair filled their faces. Ash could see it mirrored on all of the faces of the people who he had saved, especially the ones closest to the edge of the protective bubble. Wordlessly, Ash reached to his belt and pulled off his remaining pokeball, releasing Sceptile into the carnage. The grass type's expression read utter shock as he stared around him, and he instinctively slid closer to Ash.
The silence in the stadium had been broken by Ash's Pokemon, and now every trainer still alive in the stadium released their Pokemon in a massive flash. Charizard drew back his wings, and blew as much of the dust away as possible in three mighty flaps. As Pokemon filled the broken stadium and the survivors began to desperately flee, Ash turned back to the center, where his attention was immediately drawn to the black Pokemon who had emerged from the rubble of the battlefield.
"Zekrom," Ash whispered as he stared at the black Pokemon who slowly rose to its feet in the center of the battlefield.
Serena's Perspective – Route 27
The loudspeaker cut out as the entire stadium began to rumble with insane power. Serena and Looker shot each other a terrified glance. "Use protect, now!" Looker shouted as the electrical circuits around them all began to smoke and short circuit. For a moment, the world seemed to pause as Zorua and Rotom pooled their power form a protective shield around Serena and Looker. Fennekin huddled in Serena's arms as she held on to her tighter.
Then the stadium exploded.
Rotom and Zorua both visibly strained as they dug their feet into the ground beneath them. The entire world outside of the protect turned a bright white, blinding everyone inside. The explosion seemed to rock the entire stadium, and rubble cracked and slid off as it hit the protect. Serena covered her face with one hand to try and shield her eyes against the massive burst of energy. A second explosion sounded, and the force on the protect doubled before fading as the energy passed them by.
As Serena's vision returned, she looked around wildly as the protect faded. The entire control box was gone, revealing that they were on top of a massive pile of rubble at the edge of the stadium. Ash and dust rose up into the air, making her cough as she waved her hand in front of her face in a futile effort to clear the air. She pulled her shirt over her mouth and looked over to Looker, who seemed absolutely shell shocked.
I failed.
Standing on top of a pile of rubble and concrete, that was the only thing that she was absolutely sure of. She had fail to protect the tournament, the stadium, and Ash. She took a single step forwards and fell to her knees, and a single tear trickled down her face. A roar rocked the foundations of the stadium, and Rotom floated down to be face to face with her.
For once, the Pokemon's expression seemed to be serious. "Look, Princess. I know what you're thinking. You're not the only failure here. We're doing damage control now. The Syndicate obviously awakened the legendary. That means J is around here somewhere. We have to find her and stop her."
Serena tried to take a deep breath, but the ash seemed to be suffocating. With burning lungs, she coughed out, "But I'm useless. Having me around would only slow you down."
Looker, who had his arm over his mouth, had dug out his pokeball and released his Spinirak again. The spider Pokemon crawled over to Serena, Fennekin, and Zorua, and shot a bit of web over each of their mouths in turn. Serena drew in breath to protest, then was surprised to find that the web filtered out the dust. The man shook his head. "People had about a minute of warning. I would hope that some people were able to get away. Your escape is the only reason they had that much time to do so. We need to save the survivors. If J gets to them, there's no telling what she would do."
Serena's eyes burned from a combination of dust and tears. She was so utterly horrified and terrified that it had a numbing effect, pumping her full of adrenaline. "You're right. But where do we look?"
Rotom buzzed as an internal scanner in his system turned on. "The legendary currently in the stadium is a Zekrom. J wants to wreak havoc as far away from it as possible. My guess is that she'll be attacking the survivors who are fleeing. We have to move away from the stadium, now."
With a dead feeling inside, Serena nodded. She and Looker turned around, away from the cloaked interior of the stadium, and started to descend the massive pile of rubble and carnage. Zorua and Fennekin leaped onto her shoulders as her feet touched down on blasted earth covered in ruin. Looker gestured for her to follow, and the two of them started to run away from the stadium through the ash.
Serena looked at Rotom. "Can you scan for any human activity?"
The Pokedex beeped affirmatively, and its surface showed a map of the area with a number of red dots on it. There was a cluster of ten or so nearby, and Serena and Looker took off towards them. The dust seemed to take on a ghostly quality as the dying sun poured through it, and it shifted as Serena nearly tripped over the first body.
Of the first group they had found, five had died in the initial blast. Serena felt sick as she stared at the blasted and mangled bodies lying on the ground. Three were still alive, and Looker had Spinirak apply protective masks to their faces and told them to run. The three men did so, unsteadily making their way to their feet now that they could breathe properly and running away from the stadium.
Looker looked at Serena and Rotom. "This dust can't be breathed in for too long. People will start to asphyxiate the longer we wait." Serena nodded as a dull sense of urgency filled her, and they went to work as fast as they could.
For the next five minutes, the duo found as many people as they could. Some were already dead, while others were struggling to breathe. Spinirak applied mask after mask as they desperately tried to save as many lives as possible. They came to a man who was struggling along with the help of a Blastoise, and Looker stopped to give them both masks.
"Thank you so much," the man said, gratefully falling to his knees. "We were just leaving the stadium when the announcement happened. Praise you, Arceus, for allowing me to live."
A light bulb went off in Serena's head as she stared at his Pokemon. "Sir, does your Blastoise know rain dance?" The man nodded, and Looker nodded at Serena in approval. "Have him use it now."
Blastoise tiredly nodded, and he reared his head back as he called out into the sky. The ash darkened as a torrential downpour started to fall from the sky. As rain brought the cloying dust down from above, the air began to clear up slightly, and Serena could start to make out the shapes of bodies lying on the ground. The dark outline of the ruined stadium loomed above them, and a massive bolt of lightning flashed inside of the stadium as a massive roar seemed to rock the world.
Serena looked up, letting the rain wash the soot out of her tired eyes. It was like a scene from a movie, a horror novel that would disappear once the main character woke up. The fact that it could be real, that the death could be real, seemed to weight down on her like a ton of bricks. This isn't real, it can't be. Nothing in real life could possibly ever be this horrific.
And it's all my fault.
Rotom looked up as the sky, rain washing soot from his frame, as a legendary dragon bore down on them, with a sneering Hunter on its back. "We've got company."
Elle's Perspective – Route 27
When the explosion detonated, Elle was still in shock. One second, she, Bonnie, and Clemont had been cheering for Ash as Gary's final Pokemon had fallen. The next, Ash had hurdled towards them and slammed into the stadium wall just as the entire stadium had gone up in flames. She honestly was unsure of why she was still alive, in that moment. The bright light had faded, but she still wasn't registering what had happened.
Dust obscured much of her vision until a powerful gust blew it away, and she could see Ash riding on Charizard's back. He wildly gesture at her and Clemont. "Don't you get it? That's a legendary! You have to run now!"
Elle shot a panicked glance at Clemont. Is this really happening? What should we do?
Clemont seemed equally lost, but he stood up and started to pick his way along the destroyed bleachers towards a gaping hole where there had once been the stadium wall. Bonnie followed along close behind him, as well as several others who had been saved by Ash's protect. Finally, it dawned on Elle as Ash and Charizard spiraled into the center of the destroyed stadium. If I don't move right now, I'm going to die here.
She turned away and started to sprint after Clemont and Bonnie as Gary caught up to her. His eyes were wide, and he yelled, "Move now!"
Elle dashed across pieces of unstable rubble and the smoking metal remains of railings and seat. Her stomach twisted as she thought of all of the people who must have been caught up in the blow. She didn't have much time to dwell on it as a massive ground shaking roar spilled out from the stadium, and some primal instinct deep inside of her made her run even faster.
She hesitated as they came to the edge of the clear air that Charizard had created. Pulling out a pokeball, she yelled "Pokeball, go!" In a flash, her Swirlix appeared, and she commanded, "Use fairy wind!" The cotton candy Pokemon reared back and blew a massive wind of energy into the dust, and it partially cleared out enough for Elle to see through it as she plunged after Gary into the haze.
She was still running when her foot caught on a loose rock, sending her head over heels tumbling down the steep slope of rubble at the edge of the stadium. Her head hit against something hard, and her world span as she hit the ground painfully. Swirlix cried out in alarm as she swayed and leaned sideways against a rock. The world seemed to have turned to a hell scape, dust choking her as she feebly stared out into the haze.
Her Pokemon pressed the button on another one of her pokeballs, and Petlil appeared next to Elle. Her eyes widened as she saw her hurt trainer, and she glowed a bright green as she used aromatherapy. Elle's pain receded as her head stopped throbbing, and she was able to make her way to her feet and continue to struggle further away from the stadium.
After what seemed like an eternity, Elle staggered out of the dust flanked by her two Pokemon. Her breath was acrid as she took short ragged breaths, barely able to take in enough air to stay conscious. Mentally and physically exhausted, she felt numb as she inhaled a breath of fresh air and looked back behind her. The dust acted as a shroud for the looming icon of ruin behind her. The sky had darkened over the stadium, and rain had started to fall.
"Elle!" She turned around just as Gary ran up to her. His hair was gray, and he almost looked like his grandfather, in a morbid way. His eyes were wild as he stared at her. "When you didn't come out of there, I thought that something had happened to you! What happened?"
She blinked as she stared back at him. "I fell and hit my head. Petlil used aromatherapy, which gave me enough energy to keep going." Clemont and Bonnie came up beside Gary as Elle sat down on the ground, grateful to be alive. This can't be happening.
Bonnie's gaze was vacant, and she seemed to have spaced out of reality. Clemont nervously looked back at the stadium. "Don't worry about your head. I have some first aid materials in my backpack here. I think we need to stay put until help comes." He reached into his heavy pack and withdrew a white box with a red cross on it. Flipping it open, he picked out a roll of bandages and adhesive gauze.
Gary's gaze was desolate. "There were 75,000 people at this tournament. How many did that blast kill?"
Clemont hung his head. "I don't know. I just hope that Ash and Serena are okay."
Ash's Perspective – Route 27
Charizard reared up into the sky as Ash yelled "Run!" to his already fleeing companions. Please be safe, he thought as he watched them disappeared into the dust cloud.
A massive roar diverted his attention the center of the stadium. Sceptile and Pikachu held onto Charizard harder as Zekrom's massive eyes snapped open with a raging fury. He rose to his feet and looked at the scene of devastation surrounding him. As he stepped forwards, a wave of power shot out from underneath his feet, shaking the stadium with immense power.
The last time he had seen Zekrom had been in Unova, when they had stopped Reshiram and Damon, the revealed the dragon force. Since then, though, Ash had no idea how Zekrom could have possibly gotten to Kalos.
"Ash!" He looked up to see a Garchomp speeding towards him, then widened his eyes as he realized who was on his back.
"Cynthia? What on earth are you doing here?" The champion had long blond hair and a flowing black trench coat, and she had a wild expression on her face.
"No time to talk. Listen to me. If you get hit by Zekrom, you and your Pokemon will most likely die, especially in the enraged state that it's in right now. Do you understand me?"
Ash shook his head. "No, I've met Zekrom before! I can talk to it and help!"
Cynthia's eyes widened and she shook her head, but Ash was already flying directly towards the dragon type. Charizard landed in front of the massive black dragon, and he got off of the flame Pokemon's back and stepped in front of the massive legendary. "Zekrom! Remember me? It's Ash! We met in Unova."
Zekrom lowered his head so that one baleful eye was staring down the sixteen year old. Pikachu's cheeks sparked as the electrifying aura came into contact with his tiny body. "Yes. I remember you. Is it you who is responsible for my awakening?"
Ash frowned and shook his head. "No. How could you do this to the stadium? You're the Pokemon of ideals, so how could you possibly do such a thing?"
Zekrom rumbled as he rose high up above the boy and spread his wings wide. "You have the audacity to question actions beyond my will." The dragon slowly spiraled up into the air. "There has been a shift in the world in the short while since I have last walked the earth. You are no longer the Chosen, Ash Ketchum."
The low rumblings of the Pokemon rolled through the stadium, resonating deeply within the hearts of all who stood there. Ash took a step backwards as Zekrom's tail sparked to life, electricity crackling across its rings. "What do you mean?"
"There are new forces playing through this world beyond the control of you or I. Ho-oh, envoy of Arceus, has selected the new chosen. Moreover, the Hero of Ideal is the one who wakes me from my slumber to fight for their beliefs. That person is not you, nor any of the human in this stadium, nor that bumbling fool outside on that Latios. My master will revolutionize this world, and that starts with the death of Ash Ketchum!"
Ash turned tail and sprinted back towards Charizard as Zekrom started to charge up a massive blast of electricity. He jumped as high into the air as he possibly could, and Charizard swooped above him and grabbed him in his claws. Ash clawed his way onto Charizard's back just as he spiraled out of the way to avoid a massive bolt strike that slammed into the side of the stadium.
The calm seemed to be broken as Cynthia jumped into action. Garchomp swooped away and deposited her on the broken stands as she released all of the rest of her Pokemon. Charizard did the same, leaving Ash, Sceptile, and Pikachu on the walls of the stadium. Cynthia released a Togekiss, Milotic, Spiritomb, Lucario, and Roserade as she took a fighting stance towards the legendary.
On the far side of the stadium, a woman that Ash recognized as Diantha ran out onto the wall to gasp as she saw the massive Legendary. Alongside a Gardevoir that was already by her side, she released a group of four Pokemon that Ash didn't recognize, alongside a Hawlucha. A quick Pokedex scan revealed them to be a Tyrantrum, an Aurorus, a Goodra, and a Talonflame.
Ash looked his three Pokemon. Arceus, I wish my entire team was still fresh. It's not like I have much of a choice, though. Frowning as Zekrom let out a massive roar, he addressed him Pokemon. "Guys, Zekrom is insanely powerful. On top of that, none of you are idea for fighting him. Sceptile and Pikachu, I want you guys to stay next to me. Charizard, dragon pulse followed by dragon claw and dragon tail, then use protect and roost and come back. We need to play this smart, or else one of you will get seriously hurt."
Charizard nodded and shot towards Zekrom as Sceptile and Pikachu stepped forwards to guard their trainer. A massive purple blast of dragon energy launched from the fire type's mouth that was instantly countered by a powerful lightning bolt from the legendary. Charizard went into a nosedive as he grew within striking distance of Zekrom, lashing out at its pitch black hide with green claws and tail. Zekrom glowed a brilliant yellow and exploded with electricity in a powerful discharge as Charizard surrounded himself with a rainbow aura and glowed a light blue as he shot back to Ash.
By this time, Cynthia had calculated her strategy and launched a full out assault. "Garchomp, go straight in with dragon dance and outrage. Lucario, stay by me and use your aura to predict attacks and communicate. Spiritomb, use curse and spite, followed by nasty plot and dark pulse, then use pain split. Roserade, frenzy plant and leech seed, followed by synthesis and aromatherapy. Milotic, stay with me and protect me and Lucario. Togekiss, stay underneath and use psychic and heal pulse to support."
Her Pokemon nodded and sprang into action. Lucario and Milotic stayed back as Garchomp shot towards the legendary with a purple aura surrounding him. The mega evolved Pokemon slammed into his side wildly thrashing his limbs as Spiritomb floated above Zekrom and gave a massive screech. Zekrom glowed purple as well, countering outrage with outrage. As both Pokemon took damage, Garchomp pulled out to prevent himself from being KO'd. He glowed pink as Togekiss use a heal pulse on him as Zekrom attempted to give chase. He was momentarily stopped, however, as the tug of rots began to wrap around his legs from Roserade's frenzy plant. Roaring in fury, the legendary glowed blue as he roosted, then slammed his tail into the frenzy plant, shattering the roots. Shooting upwards into an unaware Spiritomb, a bolt strike sent the ghost type soaring across the stadium as he was desperately recalled by Cynthia.
As the Sinnoh Champion's Pokemon warily surrounded the legendary, Ash saw a chance with Charizard. "Charizard, use outrage now!"
Cynthia nodded as Ash did so. "Garchomp, you too! Togekiss, support both of them! Roserade, toxic!"
Charizard and Garchomp slammed into Zekrom from opposite sides as the legendary countered with his own outrage. The three attacks jumbled together into a purple mess of dragon. Togekiss healed Charizard and Garchomp continuously as Roserade, aided by Lucario, shot veins of poison energy into the massive legendary. Zekrom glowed, and all of the Pokemon went flying backwards as a wave of electricity pummeled into them.
Ash gaped as Charizard went spiraling backwards. "Quick, use roost!" He glowed blue for a moment before slamming into the crater wall, sinking down but making his way unsteadily to his feet. Spreading his wings, he dodged a series of thunderbolts before using flamethrower to deflect a dragon pulse. He settled behind Ash as Sceptile threw up a massive protect to stop a wave of electricity from killing Ash and Pikachu.
The tiny electric type looked up at Ash desperately, who shook his head. "No, you can't. Remember what happened the last time you and Zekrom met?" Pikachu sighed in acceptance and went back to watching the unfolding battle.
The sky had darkened and rain had started to fall as Diantha started her attack. Ash was struggling and Cynthia was regrouping as she started her attack. "Goodra, launch yourself with dragon pulse then use outrage! Talonflame, use flame charge repeatedly, the flare blitz into roost! Aurorus, blizzard until Goodra gets to him. Tyrantrum, same thing as Goodra! Gardevoir, teleport and moon blast. Hawlucha, stay with me."
Aurorus reared back and launched an insane blast of ice energy at Zekrom as Gardevoir disappeared and materialized behind the legendary. As the ice struck Zekrom, Gardevoir's Moonblast struck its head, making it roar in pain. Talonflame shot into its midsection as more moonblasts hit him, then again. On his third run, however, Zekrom spun around and slammed Talonflame straight down with his tail, instantly KOing the bird. Diantha recalled him as Tyrantrum and Goodra slammed into the legendary with the force of a truck. The three Pokemon once again disappeared into a mess of limbs and draconian energy as Gardevoir used moonblast once again. Zekrom let out a mighty cry, and a bolt of lightning came down from above and struck all three Pokemon. Tyrantrum was instantly knocked out, and Goodra flew back towards Diantha as she recalled the dinosaur and stared at the legendary in disbelief.
Gardevoir narrowed her eyes at the dragon as it turned its eyes towards her. Her eyes glowed, and Zekrom lifted into the air further. Draconian power seemed to leak from its body as it tried to break free, and Gardevoir used the opening to slam Zekrom with another powerful moonblast before dropping the psychic and launching a dazzling gleam. Ash could see Diantha concentrating as Zekrom lurched forwards before being blown back by the wave of fairy energy. The legendary roared in fury as Roserade's toxic took effect before glowing blue and roaring again. The roost restored its health as the hyper voice drove Gardevoir backwards and broke her concentration. Zekrom reared back as electricity arched across its body before driving forwards and slamming into Gardevoir.
The bolt strike drove Gardevoir into the stadium wall as Diantha piercingly shrieked in pain and fell to her knees. She hastily recalled her main Pokemon as she devolved. Ash stared at Zekrom in horror. That was Diantha's strongest Pokemon down, and it's as if Zekrom hasn't taken any damage! How can we possibly hope to beat it?
Erin's Perspective – Shalour City Outskirts
Erin cheered as Blastoise collapsed onto the battlefield. "Yeah! Ash won!" Kirlia smiled and spun around as Deerling and Druddigon lounged next to them.
Paul frowned as he watched the battlefield. "So that's how strong Ketchum really is. Pathetic." He turned away from the screen that Erin had set up using a sheet and her Poketch.
Erin turned around to stare at her friend. "You're kidding me, right? Is now really the time you need to activate asshole mode?"
Paul shook his head. "Not this battle. Pathetic that he has such powerful Pokemon, but he limits himself by using that weakling of a Froaky. His entire Kalos team except Pikachu is weak and under trained. He could sweep the Kalos league he actually used Charizard on a regular basis. It's absurd."
Erin was about to respond, but her attention was brought back to the match as the announcer started to say something odd. The aerial footage of the field shook, and the announcer yelled, "The stadium is calling for an evacuation! Hundreds of people are releasing their Pokemon and fleeing the stadium!" She gaped as what seemed like a missile slammed into the champion's box, and Ash got on Charizard and shot into the crowd. Then the entire screen went dark.
Paul and Erin stared at each other with wide eyes. "What the hell just happened?" Paul asked, getting up from where he was sitting against a tree.
Before Erin could respond, the TV screen switched from black to a disorganized studio. Several people ran across the screen as a newscaster ran in and sat down at the table. "We have just lost all contact with the Tournament Extraordinaire stadium!" he exclaimed. "We don't know yet, but it's possible that something horrible has just occurred as the stadium. Wait..." He pressed a hand to an earpiece, and then looked up at the camera with a horrified expression on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, according to a news crew who were on a helicopter reporting at the sight, a massive explosion has just ripped through the stadium on route 27 where the Tournament Extraordinaire is taking place. We're collecting footage of the incident now."
Erin stared at the screen in horror as she watched the stadium. An explosion? But how? Is Serena all right? What about everyone else? The stadium seemed normal, then the ground began to crack. An entire portion of the audience was lifted out of their seats by a massive psychic and moved away from the stadium as protects sprung up across the stands. Then, a blinding flash of white light filled the camera for at least fifteen seconds. When it faded, a massive dust cloud obscured much of the stadium, which was obviously destroyed.
Serena. She got to her feet and returned Deerling and Druddigon, her mind already made up. Paul's eyes widened as he instantly realized what she intended to do. "No, Erin, you can't! It's too dangerous! He ran forwards and grabbed her arm, and she tried to yank it away as she turned towards him.
She shook her head. "Serena, Ash, Elle, Clemont and Bonnie are all there. We have to make sure that they're all right!"
"No, we can't."
Erin stared at Paul, who was barely a foot away from her. "Don't you get it? We have to go!"
"But why?"
Erin closed her eyes as she remembered Geosenge town. "I let Gurkinn die, and it ruined Korrina. Now my friends are in danger, and I'm sure as hell not going to let the same thing happen to them!" Her eyes watered a bit as she stared at Paul, who had a look of desperation in his eyes.
"But what would happen to the people who cared about you if you go there and die?" Paul asked.
Erin shook her head. "I'm sorry. I have to go."
"No, but-"
"I have to!"
Paul seemed terrified of something all of a sudden, and Erin couldn't tell what. "Erin, don't you get it? I can't lose you."
"But I-"
She was cut off as Paul leaned in and kissed her. She was surprised only for a second, then embraced him and returned it. The two of them broke off in a heat, and Erin looked at Paul as she never had before. The boy had a deep blush, and she didn't know what to think as conflicting emotions rose up inside of her.
Erin stared at Paul. Did that really just happen? It took a second for her to compose herself. Serena. "We should go together."
Paul nodded, and Kirlia psychically cleaned up the camp and packed both of their bags in a matter of seconds. They both grabbed their stuff as Kirlia smirked at Erin. "It was bound to happen eventually, anyways."
Erin flushed deep red. "Shut up. I have a sister to save." Kirlia rolled her eyes as she touched both her and Paul, and the trio disappeared from the peace of the woods in a flash.
Serena's Perspective – Route 27
Looker yelled, "Protect!" as Latios came speeding towards them at absurd speeds. Rotom threw up a protect, and the giga impact slammed into him at full force, sending his protect spiraling backwards until he cut it off and floated back over to Serena.
Serena stared at the hunter, a rising feeling of utter hatred rising up inside of her. Heart breaking, she yelled, "How could you do something like this? Do you even realize how many people you just killed?"
J sneered. "Oh, sweet naive Serena. I merely caused this. You had your hand on the switch, but you couldn't bring it down in time. Why, I would be inclined to think this is your fault." Her sugar coated voice dripped contempt for the girl.
Serena felt J's words cut deep into her. She's right. I could have stopped all of this, but I failed. What she didn't expect was when Rotom appeared behind her and slammed an electro ball into Latios, nearly bucking J off of the legendary.Her dark glasses flew off of her face, revealing stormy gray eyes that flashed as the ashen twilight bled its last crimson rays down on the humans below.
J's face turned from patronizing to downright vicious, making her seem monstrous through the pouring rain and dust. "Fool. You're going to pay for that. Immobilize them."
Latios cried out as his eyes glowed white. Serena rose into the air as excruciating pain filled ever fiber of her being. As it started to fade, she hung her head as J floated towards her. She flicked her hand, and Latios shot another blast of pain through her system, and her vision went black as it overwhelmed her senses.
Choking on ash, Serena gritted her teeth as she desperately tried to stave of the pain. Ash. It was only thinking of him that she was able to find the strength to stop herself from crying out.
As Serena visibly suffered, Looker yelled, "Stop it! This is cruel and unusual treatment!"
Momentarily taking her attention off of Serena, J turned to the detective and laughed. "I don't have time for you, old man." She raised the arm with her cannon and fired a single shot directly into Looker's chest. He screamed in pain as his entire body glowed, and he shrunk down to the size of Fennekin as a tiny bronze figurine.
"Looker!" Serena screamed as the man clattered to the dusty ground, motionless. No, this isn't happening.
Momentarily jumping off of Latios, J licked her lips as she picked op the figurine and fondled the motionless man's cheeks. "I know a certain Galactic scientist who will be more than pleased to kill you. I hear he's working on genetic modification these days. I wonder what… delicious torture he'll put you through before he kills you."
"Stop it!" Serena wildly shook her head in a futile effort to get loose of the psychic, but failed as her hair whirled around her head like a golden halo. "Why would you do this? What do you possibly have to gain?"
"Shut her up!" J's eyes were wild as she spun around to look at Serena. "You know fucking nothing about me! Nothing!" Her voice took a crazed edge as the rain ran down her face. Her hair and composure both seemed to have been lost, hanging down around her in wet clumps. She aimed her cannon next to Serena and fired, and Rotom collapsed as a figurine to the ground next to Serena.
Serena stared in horror at her Pokemon, seemingly dead on the ground next to her. I'm going to die here. I'm never going to see any of my friends again. Desperately, she sent prayers to Arceus, anyone who could help her.
J jumped into the air, and Latios swooped under the Hunter to catch her in midair. She pressed a button on her cannon, and a long serrated blade shot out of the contraption. Her eyes widened as she stared at the cold steel pointed at her face. "The world did worse things to me than you could ever imagine, Serena Yvonne. They took everything from me, and I'm going to take everything back piece by piece that is rightfully mine. You're a rich, entitled brat who isn't even strong enough to fight your own battles, and now you're going to die for it." She spat in Serena's face as she brought the blade down and rammed it into her hand.
Serena's eyes shut tight as her hand seemed to explode into raging fire. The Hunter dug the blade deeper into her hand, grinning maniacally as Serena seemed to wither under the pain. "You dare to question me. You dare to attack my Pokemon. You dare to attack my organization." Worst off all..."
J ripped the blade out of Serena's hand. Blood dripped from the wound onto her miniskirt, turning the already dark fabric deep crimson. "You dare to be the chosen!"
Serena fought to not black out as J pressed the blade against her cheek. "The others are nothing. Money and goods, things that I have no need for. But you… Oh, I'm going to savor killing you for a long time, Serena Yvonne."
"And you would be a fool, J."
J drew back and spun around as a mysterious cloaked figure stepped out from the shadows of the ashen stripped trunks of the trees around them. Her eyes widened, and she snarled, "You!"
The figure bowed her head and drew her hood back, revealing blue hair that tumbled down below her shoulders. A dark Pokemon jumped onto her shoulder, and Serena was barely able to muster her confusion. What? Why did Zorua go to her? The blue-haired woman reached out and stroked the hair of the tricky fox Pokemon as she stuck out her hand. Zorua's pokeball flew free of Serena's belt and into her hand, and she smiled. "You did well, Zorua. Your mission has been accomplished."
J sneered at the woman in front of her. "What do you want?"
The woman shrugged. "Your plan has begun to come to fruition. I only wish to witness her fate, whatever it may be. Consider me to be a bystander."
J raised an eyebrow. "So you won't stop me from killing her?"
"Oh, I won't stop you."
The Hunter grinned demonically as she ran her hand down the length of the bloody blade. "Good."
"However, there is always another chosen." The woman stepped aside from J, and the Hunter smirked as she and Latios floated forwards towards Serena, only to be pushed aside by a massive flash that blinded the entire area.
The last thing Serena heard before blacking out was someone desperately crying her name.
Erin's Perspective – Route 27
Erin and Paul appeared in what appeared to be a scene out of a horror movie.
The air around them was dark and clogged, and rain poured down on top of them. In the background, the destroyed wreckage of the stadium loomed over them. Worst of all, Erin watched as Serena, who was suspended directly in front of them in midair, collapsed to the ground.
"Serena!" she screamed, not fully comprehending the situation. She sprinted forwards as Kirlia caught Serena and grabbed her. She looked up to see an absolutely furious and confused Hunter J bearing down on top of her on Latios' back.
"Erin, no!" Paul chucked a Pokeball as hard as he could, and it slammed into Latios' head. The Eon Pokemon reared back with a cry as Pidgeot appeared in front of Erin and Serena with a massive protect.
Erin stared down at Serena with horror. The blond girl who was nearly identical to her had a long cut across her face. Her left hand was covered in blood, and a massive stab wound went all the way through it. Her clothes were covered in dust and singed, and her signature hat was gone. She looked up at J, ready to murder her. "What the hell did you do to her?"
J snarled as Latios rammed the protect, but failed to break through. "I would have killed her, if you hadn't intervened."
Erin rose to her feet as she and Paul released their Pokemon to flank Serena. Her attention flew to a small bronze figurine on the ground, and her eyes widened in recognition as she realized what it was. That's the same thing that happened to Sanpei when he was captured! She growled, "Pidgeot, use hidden power!"
The bird nodded, and a radiant green glow shot outwards from his body in all directions. Inky black marks painted themselves across Erin and Paul's hands as the two statues glowed yellow. One shot upwards, turning into a man about Erin's height who collapsed to the side. The other seemed to just melt away to reveal a strange orange Pokemon that Erin didn't recognize.
A laugh from the side diverted both Erin and J's attention as a blue haired woman walked out in between Latios and the protect. Cerys smirked as she looked Erin and Paul over. "Perfect. I knew you would come."
J's eyes widened as she stared at Cerys in surprise. "This is your fault!" Her gaze hardened, and she gestured to Latios. The legendary reared back before shooting towards Cerys at max power, body glowing as he attempted to destroy the woman.
Cerys calmly raised a single hand out in front of her, and Latios stopped dead, immobile. Dark tendrils curled around his body, creeping towards J and Pidgeot's protect. The woman's eyes hardened as she stared at J with a cold intensity. "I would not be such a fool as to attack me, I were you."
Erin's hands shook as she stared at Cerys. Paul put a warning hand on her shoulder, but she ignored it, hitting his hand away. "Why?"
Cerys shifted her gaze to Erin, and she swept her hand to one side. As if she had flipped a switch, Pidgeot's protect instantly vanished. Erin gasped as the darkness rushed up to grab hold of the bird, holding him just as immobile as Latios. Her mouth hardened as she looked over Erin. "Erin, I see that you have… changed. Foolish that the champion challenged you, really. Such arrogance will be her undoing."
"That wasn't my question!" Erin snarled as the darkness that seemed to emanate from Cerys began to envelop their surroundings, cloaking them from the rest of the world. "Why did you kill Gurkinn?"
Kirlia sent a warning probe into Erin's mind. "Erin, we can't do this! Remember what she did to us last time? We couldn't even touch Hydregion, much less that shadow."
Erin viciously shoved Kirlia's warning aside. "No! They're both going to pay for what they've done to me and my friends!"
Cerys' eyes flashed in amusement. "I, the one who killed Gurkinn? I told you that you play a role in this world. You and I both know fully well that Gurkinn could have been saved. And now what? Just look at what happened to poor Korrina…" The words slithered off of her tongue like sickeningly sweet venom.
Kirlia blasted her energy into Erin, and Paul said something, but it wasn't enough to stop something from snapping inside of her. "Shut the fuck up!" she screamed, taking a wild step forwards as the darkness crept up her leg. "Why is all of this happening to me?"
Cerys narrowed her eyes. "Why? This world needs something more to preserve it. Of course, you're so caught up in yourself that you don't even see your sister lying half dead at your feet. Or had you convinced yourself that you belong here? That Serena really cares about you as if you were family? That you haven't made the lives of every single person who you've come into contact with worse?"
Erin could barely keep herself afloat as the words cut through her. She looked back at Serena, lying motionless behind her. At Paul, watching her and J with horror. At Kirlia, who looked broken in her desolation. The darkness climbed up her legs and torso, and covered the pure white fabric of her skirt and sweatshirt. This can't be it. This isn't where it all ends.
"No."
"No."
Kirlia put her hands together and exploded with a blast of fairy energy as Erin brilliantly glowed a light gold. The darkness evaporated as mists swirled around Erin, Paul, Kirlia, and Serena, spreading out to form a boundary in between them and Cerys. Pidgeot returned to normal, and he slumped to the ground in a faint as Paul stepped up behind Erin and returned him.
Erin's entire body glowed with a radiant golden light as an outpouring of Kirlia's power filled her and stripped away her fear, her hate, her uncertainty. "You're wrong, Cerys." She and Kirlia seemed to speak together, and Erin lifted one finger and pointed at both her and J. "This is your faults! You took Sanpei! You hurt Paul! You killed Gurkinn! You destroyed this stadium! You nearly kidnapped Ralts' family! I didn't choose to come here. I was put here for a reason, and that's to stop you!"
Kirlia cut of her power and Erin dropped down to one knee as Cerys stepped back and laughed. "Empty words, but perhaps they may hold merit someday. Good. Perhaps this time stream still has hope. Remember what I told you in Geosenge Town, Erin. The time will come when the tests that face you will require more of you than this."
Emotionally drained, Erin watched as Cerys stepped backwards into the shadows. She seemed to melt into them as a massive roar shook the foundations of the earth. The shadow faded, and Cerys was gone.
Paul looked around him in amazement. "Incredible. Kirlia used misty terrain to stave off the darkness." His eyes hardened as he looked at Erin, who was hollowly staring at her hands as he hair hung low around her head. "Erin. We can talk about this later, but we have to deal with J." He pointed up at the white haired Hunter, who barely managed to struggle to her feet. He grabbed his three remaining pokeballs, and released Ninjask, Phantump, and Clauncher.
So all of this was just… a test. Erin closed her eyes as she hung her head. "Kirlia, thank you." A single tear leaked down her cheek to the misty ground as the fairy lights illuminated her face. I-
Her bond with Kirlia seemed to be the only tangible thing as she desperately tried to shut off the world around her. "Erin, there's nothing you can do. We have to stop J." Kirlia seemed just as lifeless as she felt, but she sent her acknowledgment to her before raising her head and releasing Druddigon and Deerling.
Serena stirred behind her as the fairy aura slowly began to revitalize her. Her eyes slid open as J recalled Latios, who was knocked out by the shadow. "Erin?" she whispered feebly, and Paul knelt down beside her as Erin stared J down.
The boy knelt down and swept the loose hair out of Serena's face. "We're here. You're too hurt to move. Don't even think about it."
The smallest of smiles stretched across Erin's face as the black mark of the Dialga Institute slowly faded from her hand. Serena's not gone yet. She shifted her posture as J looked from her to the six Pokemon surrounding her. "Give up, J," Erin said in a dead tone. "Surrender, or I'll kill you."
J mustered her face into a sneer. "This isn't over." In a flash, she released a Gothitelle and vanished.
Erin stared blankly at the empty space where the Hunter had been. Good. She's gone.Kirlia lifted her up with psychic and helped her walk over to Serena, where she collapsed to her knees.
Serena's eyes were barely open as she looked up at Erin. "You came," she whispered, as Erin hugged the blood soaked girl.
Erin nodded, unable to come up with words. She looked Serena over, eyes coming to rest on the chain around her neck. She smiled and said, "You wore it."
Serena was barely able to shake her head. "Of course I did."
As the two embraced, Paul and Kirlia went to look over the man and the Pokemon that they had restored from the statues J had created. The man arose first, rubbing his chest in pain as he stared around him confusedly. "W-what happened? Who are you? Is Serena all right? Where's J?"
Paul frowned. "J's gone. Serena needs medical attention. I don't know everything that happened, and my identity is of no concern to you."
Meanwhile, Erin tenderly brushed Serena's bloody hand, only to jerk it away as she felt the girl stiffen beneath her. "What did J do to you?" Erin growled.
"She said she was going to kill me," Serena whispered. "She- She had a knife, and-"
Erin shook her head. "No, tell me later. I'm just glad that you're alive."
The two of them sat there as the mists swirled around them. Paul yelled as he was on the receiving end of a rude awakening for Rotom, and a massive roar rang through the air from the stadium.
Erin stared at the looming stadium behind Serena. Whatever caused this explosion is still out there. I just hope that Ash is okay.
Ash's Perspective – Route 27
"Blast burn!"
Charizard reared up into the sky, then slammed his flaming fist down into the ground. Zekrom powered through the strong attack and slammed into Charizard with a giga impact. It kept going for Ash, but Sceptile threw up a protect just before it made impact, driving the legendary up and into the sky.
Ash cried out in alarm as Charizard slammed into the side of the stadium, this time for good. The flame Pokemon had swirls in his eyes as Ash recalled him, and he stared up at Zekrom bleakly.
Zekrom roared once again as he glowed blue, shaking the stadium. "This is the best effort that you can put up? I can't believe I ever accepted you as my hero! Now, you will understand the true ideals that will reshape this world!"
Cynthia and Diantha both looked worse for wear as well. Diantha was down to just Aurorus and Goodra, and she seemed to have shifted to a defensive mode of self preservation. Cynthia still had Garchomp, Roserade, Togekiss, and Lucario, but all of them seemed to be tired as well. The two champions were both looking at Ash and each other, and defeat seemed to be inevitable.
Zekrom's mouth glowed orange as he prepared to shot a draco meteor high into the sky, but he was stopped as a massive force slammed into his side and exploded, sending the Pokemon flying downwards into the stadium. The black Pokemon hit the rubble hard, sending up a wave of dust and mud.
Ash's head spun around to look as four military grade helicopters flew out into the stadium. One slid its side open to reveal a strange contraption, while another shot a second missile into the legendary's side. Zekrom screeched in pain as the impact opened a massive wound on its side, and the force drove it down into the wall.
The contraption charged, then fired a red beam of energy that hit the legendary's side. Zekrom shrieked as its form glowed red, immobilizing it and forcing it to stand.
A man walked to the edge of the helicopter. His fiery red hair seemed to light up the desolation around him, and a matching suit clung to his massive frame as he leaped out holding a pokeball in one hand. He walked up to Zekrom and pressed the button of the ball to the Pokemon's hide. The legendary was sucked in, and the ball shook five times before dinging a successful capture.
Ash's eyes widened as he started to run toward the man, followed by his Pokemon. He just… caught Zekrom? Is that even possible?
Diantha and Cynthia made it to the man right before Ash did. Diantha's eyes were wide. "Lysandre! Just in time, as always."
The tall man graciously nodded, slightly tilting his head as he surveyed the scene around him. "No. Evidently, I was too late." His tone was masked, and it was impossible for Ash to tell what he was truly thinking.
Lysandre smiled at Diantha as she started to respond, but he stopped abruptly as a blade-like talon came to rest on his throat. Diantha stared as Cynthia walked up to Lysandre. "You are the greatest fool that I have ever met. Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you on the spot."
The fiery haired man held out his hand and spread his fingers wide, and Cynthia snatched the pokeball away from him. Lysandre raised an eyebrow at her. "I save Kalos from what would most certainly be destruction if Zekrom had been allowed to continue attacking, and this is the thanks I get?"
Cynthia stared down at the Pokeball she held with horror as she motioned for Garchomp to move away. "I have studied Legendary Pokemon for ten years. I know more about them than any other trainer on the face of this earth." Her hand clenched around the ball, and her head shot up. "You may have just ruined the balance of our world by doing catching a legendary. We have to release Zekrom before there are any repercussions!"
Lysandre laughed. "You, world champion, are going to release an infuriated and injured legendary without proper preparation? Even you would not be so foolish. Hold it until this mess dies down. Kalos has some serious rebuilding to do, and if Zekrom is still on the loose, then..." He let his sentence trail off into the dead air around them.
Ash caught up to the group of three as Cynthia pocketed the pokeball with a grimace. Sceptile stood by his side as Pikachu leaped onto his shoulder. "Is it over?" he asked as Lysandre turned tail and walked back to his helicopter.
Cynthia nodded at him gravely as Diantha yelled at Lysandre. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"
Lysandre sneered at her. "In case you didn't catch it, champion, my entire HQ was practically razed by the Syndicate this morning. I would say I have some rebuilding to do, though not nearly as much as you do." He stepped into the helicopter as the door slammed shut, and the vehicles rose into the air and departed just as fast as they had come.
Diantha closed her eyes and sunk to her knees as the dust finally settled around them. "How could this have happened? Such terrible destruction… So many lost. Who could possibly have wanted this?"
Ash tried to keep his eyes steely as he watched Cynthia attempt to comfort the crying Kalos champion. She was right. He hoped that Elle, Clemont, Bonnie, and Gary were all alright, but he couldn't say for sure. Serena on the other hand…
The more and more he thought about the honey blond dying, the more and more it infuriated him. Serena, screaming in pain as the fires of a thousand suns incinerated her. Serena, lying on the ground under a pile of rubble, slowly wasting away. Serena, crushed by the immense power of the legendary Zekrom.
He clenched his fist. If she dies, I'll never forgive myself. She just-
Ash stopped his spiraling as he realized something shocking. Wait a second. Sure, everyone that I've ever traveled with has been in dangerous situations, but I never thought anything like this about them. Does that mean that Serena… is different from everyone else?
A tiny voice in his head, echoing through his entire body, screamed yes.
Ash pushed his morbid thoughts aside as his resolve strengthened. I have to find her. Now. He nodded to Sceptile, and then turned away from the champions and started to walk away from the stadium.
"Ash, where are you going?"
He turned around to see Cynthia staring at him. "I have to find my friends."
Cynthia nodded. "We need to find and count the dead. It may be impossible, considering how many were directly caught in the blast. You should do what you can. Oh, and Ash? It's no consolation, considering everything that has happened, but congratulations on winning the Tournament Extraordinaire."
In spite of himself, the smallest of smiles found its ghost on Ash's lips as he walked out of the wreckage, leaving the ruined stadium behind him.
[A/N] Where do I even begin to talk about this chapter?
First of all, we see Elle's viewpoint for the first time ever. I can guarantee that we'll be seeing a lot more of her in upcoming chapters.
Honestly, poor Clemont, Bonnie, and Gary. Gary is useless because all of his Pokemon are knocked out, and Clemont is too busy protecting Bonnie to do anything. And Bonnie? She's eight, guys. She can't handle something like this.
I felt the battle part was an accurate reflection of the skills of champions, as well as the brute force of a legendary.
Erin and Paul… Yeah, that's been starting for a long while. Please tell me if you thought that scene was believable. Despite the fact that this story is secondarily in the romance genre, I have very little experience writing it. Any and all tips are more than welcome! (hint hint)
Finally, Serena. If this hasn't already been established in this fan fiction, J is a crazy ass psychopath. Also, if a single one of you has any clue what Cerys' motives are, you get all of the digital cookies. All of them. No, but in all seriousness, this was one of the hardest scenes that I've ever had to write.
Next, I didn't anticipate how much this chapter would cover and how dark it would be before hand. Therefore, there's going to be a one chapter period with repercussions and a bit of fluff to cycle into the Camp arc. After that, camp is going to have some ten different things all going on at the same time. It's going to be absolutely crazy awesome!
Last, the middle evolutions for the starters were just revealed. I like all of them, honestly. I think each one had its own unique style and flair, and I love Pokemon for it. What are all of your opinions.
We're at 95 reviews, and I want to know what you thought. Who's excited for camp with me? How was the chapter? Review, leave a favorite and a follow, and Pokefan87 signing out.
