Chapter 25
"Absol, Gardevoir?" Darkrai addressed his two followers for the first time in quite a while. They had been so absorbed in the action on Lunar Island that there had been no sound in the room apart from the occasional vicious outburst from Absol.
"Yes, Master?" Absol said eagerly, "Is it finally time?"
"I don't know yet, but maybe," The phantom-like lord of darkness whispered, "Three out of the four generals have been defeated by these three young Guild fools. Pyroar is the only one left, but we all know that he thinks he's far stronger than he is. He's the strongest of the four generals I sent, but he's in fact the weakest link in the chains of this army. I fear that our mission to destroy Cresselia might end up failing if we just let him do what he wants."
"True." This was one of those rare times when Gardevoir spoke.
"Yes, Master!" Absol howled with pleasure, "This is what I've been waiting for! I can hardly wait to get out there and slaughter some fools!"
"Now, now, Absol," Darkrai said, "Let's not write Pyroar off as a failure straight away. Look, one of the heroes is coming towards the clearing!"
"Wake up!" Malamar called.
Froakie's eyes snapped open. "Wh-What?"
He felt invigorated. Whatever Malamar had done, it had replenished Froakie's energy.
"I feel… Way better!" Froakie shouted.
"Yeah, kid, I used Hypnosis on you and you restored some energy, big deal! Can you keep your voice down, too?!"
"Why?" Froakie's voice fell to a whisper.
"Because we're being stealthy, silly!" One of the Inkay said, floating along aimlessly after them.
"Look, kid," Malamar began, "I'm going to let you down now. See that Pokémon at the edge of those trees?"
Froakie dropped down to the ground and peered over through the cover of what remained of the forest. There was a clearing up ahead, and at the edge, closest to the trees, Froakie could see a floating, strange-looking Pokémon.
"What is that?"
"It's a Beheeyem."
Froakie gasped, "I've heard of those! Don't they live way out on their own somewhere, though?"
"Yes, but Darkrai has recruited one and it's proving a huge threat as it is restricting Lady Cresselia's Psychic abilities! You need to sneak over there and break its concentration! You're fast and stealthy, right?"
Froakie thought for a moment then nodded. Being heralded as a prodigy assassin must have counted for something, right?
"I understand," Froakie said, "Thanks for putting me to sleep, Malamar. I feel uplifted! I can fight again now!"
"Good," Malamar smiled, "Because we've got one hell of a fight ahead of us, kid!"
Froakie silently sped through the trees, careful to be as light as he could on his feet as making a sound would alert the Beheeyem to his appearance. He considered throwing a Water Shuriken to catch it off guard, but then decided to go for a full-frontal attack from behind.
He got closer, until he was just inches away from the alien-like creature, who was still making weird hand movements and humming to himself.
What a weird Pokémon… What if it's already sensed me?
Throwing caution to the wind, Froakie leaped onto the Beheeyem's back and seemed to have caught him by surprise. The alien creature yelled as the little frog punched him over and over, knocking him down onto the ground. Froakie looked around at all the Pokémon around him fighting. There were so many of Darkrai's followers and so few of Cresselia's. A lump grew in Froakie's throat when he saw the corpses of some Psychic types lying on the ground. He was filled with rage. That Pokémon he was clinging to the back of and beating away at was the reason Lady Cresselia couldn't help her allies. Beheeyem was the reason innocent Pokémon were dying here!
He knew Beheeyem deserved it, and got up off the alien's back, ceasing his relentless attacks.
"What?" The alien said in a somewhat metallic sounding voice, "Who are you?"
"My name's Froakie," Froakie replied, "And, I hate to do this, but this is the end for you!"
Pokémon started drawing their attention to him as he launched a Water Shuriken into the Beheeyem's back. Blood seeped out like a faucet from a gaping wound made from the force of the attack.
Froakie felt good, but also sick. This was the first Pokémon he had killed ever since he arrived at Treasure Town. Sure, he had beaten a few senseless, but this was his first kill in a while.
He looked down at the unmoving body of Beheeyem. Had this Pokémon really been bad, or had he just sided with Darkrai out of fear, like Zweilous back at the Guild had?
Froakie had no time to ponder, as he was narrowly saved from the attack of an approaching Machamp by a Psywave attack from Malamar. He and the Inkay emerged from the bushes.
"That was a good attack," Malamar said, "You did what had to be done! Now, let's win this battle!"
Pyroar noticed Froakie a moment after he, Malamar and the two Inkay joined the fight. He roared another booming roar.
"Halt once more!"
Worried tears ran down Fennekin's eyes as she saw Froakie.
"Froakie!" She called, "Run, Froakie! They'll kill you!"
Pyroar and the rest of Darkrai's army laughed.
"Kill him, will we? Fear not, my lad, for she is wrong. From what we've seen of you, we can gather that you are very powerful."
Froakie was advancing through the crowd towards Pyroar, Fennekin and Cresselia. The latter seemed to be deep in thought, as if she was planning something.
"I guess you could say that…" Froakie muttered, "I can show you if you like. Tell me who the hell you are first, and why you're holding my friend hostage."
"Ah, where are my manners? I am Pyroar, one of Darkrai's four generals for the attack on Lunar Island, and as you can see, I have captured your friend because she has disrespected me and my Master, so I am going to kill her once the third member of your little trio arrives."
Froakie looked around. Chespin wasn't there yet? Worry developed in the pit of his stomach about his friend, and he wondered if he would even make it there at all.
"I'm not going to let you do that, Pyroar," Cresselia spoke for the first time, "Froakie just killed Beheeyem, so I'm free to do what I want. Now I can pay you and your cronies back in full for what you've done to the Pokémon of Lunar Island!"
Pyroar threw his head back, his mighty mane whipping back as well. He laughed mockingly at the Legendary Pokémon.
"I don't think that'll happen, Lady Cresselia!" He said with mock sadness.
She blasted him with a Hyper Beam, but he moved out of the way.
"Followers of Darkrai, stop what you're doing and attack these enemies of our Master! We will have Lady Cresselia's head, in the name of our Lord!"
The remainder of the army stopped fighting Cresselia's underlings and headed for the outside of Cresselia's home, where Pyroar and the rest of them were.
Cresselia looked at Fennekin and Froakie.
"Are you two ready to fight? We're going to have to take down the rest of this army ourselves!"
Fennekin and Froakie nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Lady Cresselia!" Fennekin said.
"We'll do our best!" Froakie assured her, readying himself for battle.
"There's no chance of you fools defeating us!" Pyroar said, before swiping at Cresselia with a Shadow Claw. The Lunar Pokémon evaded and launched a Moonblast, ready to go head-to-head with Pyroar.
The oncoming ranks of Pokémon enveloped them, and soon Fennekin and Froakie were in the midst of a large battle. There must have been at least a hundred Pokémon left. This would be a difficult fight, even for them, who had been through so much since they had met.
Fennekin spat Embers at a charging Escavalier to stop his spear from ramming into Froakie, who was facing a powerful Primeape.
"This is going to be tough!" Froakie said to Fennekin.
"Yeah, you're right!" Fennekin nodded between attacks. She was trying to keep the onslaught of enemies at bay by throwing them backwards with Psybeams, but this worked slowly as she could only lift one Pokémon at a time for now.
Froakie was moving fast, creating illusions of himself with Double Team and misleading his enemies. Quite a few of them were down within ten minutes, and Fennekin gave Froakie an encouraging smile as if to say "Let's keep going!"
Meanwhile, Cresselia and Pyroar were duelling in the midst of Fennekin and Froakie's own battle. Pyroar launched blasts of flames, hindering all those fighting on the battlefield, but Cresselia avoided the attacks and returned fire with attacks of her own. She had the upper hand in this fight, as Pyroar was only a mere general while she was a Legendary Pokémon who had been fighting evil and protecting her comrades ever since the dawn of time.
"I must compliment you, Lady Cresselia," Pyroar said, "But I'm afraid all your attempts to defeat me are in vain! If I was you I would just give up and turn myself in to Master Darkrai! Maybe then your little heroes would be spared!"
Cresselia shook her head defiantly. "I will never bow down to Darkrai. If I allow him to get what he wants, this world will be doomed! I have to live on or else the world will go to Hell, even more so than it already has!"
She lifted him up with Psychic and threw the struggling lion into the wall of her home. He roared with a mixture of rage and pain.
"I'll have your head, Cresselia!" He got up and launched another wave of fire.
"Fat chance, you ignorant fool!" She cancelled out his Fire Blast with a Hyper Beam.
Pyroar leaped towards her when the dust from the attacks cleared, his fangs bared. Cresselia was still recharging from the Hyper Beam attack, so couldn't move out of the way. His fangs clamped down on her neck and she cried out in pain.
"Get off me, you fiend! How dare you?!"
She tried to attack, but she needed to restore more energy. As his fangs pierced deeper into her neck, blood poured from it. She cried out again, and soon began to have difficulty breathing.
Pyroar was then launched off her and sent flying sideways.
"Argh! It's you?!"
He had been knocked off Cresselia by a Low Kick from a small green Pokémon with a huge grin on his face.
Cresselia looked at him. "You must be Chespin?"
Chespin nodded, "Yeah, that's me! Cresselia, right? Sorry I'm late, I had a little trouble getting here!"
Despite herself, she laughed. "Ah, that's okay, little one!"
Chespin looked at her neck. "You're hurt…" He reached for the bag on his back, "I'll get an Oran Berry…"
"It's okay, I'll do it myself!"
She could finally move again. She channelled some power into healing herself, and used Recover. The healing took effect instantly, and the bite marks on her neck closed.
"You'll be okay?" Chespin asked considerately.
"Yes, don't worry about me."
Pyroar had gathered himself up again, "Hey, you little weakling? Where do you get off trying to attack me?"
Chespin looked quizzically at him, "I'm not on your side, what did you expect?"
The lion's blue eyes were full of intense hatred, "No matter. All three of you Guild idiots are here now, correct?"
"Fennekin and Froakie are here?" Chespin asked, looking around at the throngs of battling Pokémon. He spotted his friends in the middle, fighting hard.
"Yes. And now, as promised, it's time for me to destroy all three of you! I told your little Fire-type friend it would only be her who dies, but I think I've changed my mind after that kick you gave me! If you hadn't done that, I would have got to kill Cresselia and become my Master's right-hand Pokémon!"
"I don't think a Crunch attack would kill a Legendary Pokémon…" Chespin pointed out, to Cresselia's amusement.
"Shut up!" Pyroar hissed, "You'll be the first to die!"
Chespin looked him in the eye, "Bring it on! Lady Cresselia, go help my friends, then bring them here! This guy seems tough… I might need some help!"
Cresselia nodded, and Teleported a few feet into the crowd, leaving Chespin alone, stalling for time against a Pokémon strong against him until his friends arrived.
"What's your name, fool?" Pyroar asked him.
"Chespin!" He answered.
"I've never fought a Chespin before!" The large Fire-type laughed, "It will be fun to singe you to a pile of ashes!"
"Fat chance!" Chespin said, charging at the lion head-on. This was a bad idea. Pyroar used Flamethrower and the blast of heat hit him. He was blasted by the flames and sent flying, severely weakened by one attack.
That was stupid… I should have known he was going to do that! Plus, I'm still weak from fighting Rhyperior and Crawdaunt…
Chespin got up and made an Energy Ball. He ran at Pyroar again, this time getting close enough before he could charge up a Fire attack. He tossed the Energy Ball at Pyroar. It made contact with him, but didn't seem to do anything.
Pyroar threw his head back and laughed. "Even for a Grass type, that was pretty weak- ARGH!"
He was stopped mid-sentence by a Power-Up Punch to the face. He was sent reeling, but didn't fall, which Chespin had to commend him for, considering he was part Normal-type and Fighting moves were super effective against him.
Pyroar roared angrily, and sent a flurry of flames Chespin's way. He was too fast, though, and got behind the shrine-like building where Cresselia presumably lived. The Fire Blast only burnt a nearby tree.
By the time Pyroar had pinpointed where Chespin had ran to, he was upon him again with another Power-Up Punch. This time, he was completely off-guard trying to track his foe. He was sent sprawling on the ground.
"Oh, yeah!" Chespin said triumphantly, "How do you like being beaten by a Grass type?!"
Pyroar got up, an even more intense rage showing in his eyes.
"You are just a little fool from the Guild!" Pyroar said, "You're fighting hard, but you're way out of your league!"
"I've been told that before, and I even thought that myself when I first came to this Island," Chespin told his enemy, "But I've been facing powerful enemies since before me and my friends even reached land, and I'm still here! You know why?"
Pyroar grit his teeth, "Why, fool? Let me guess, you're probably going to say 'Because of my friends' or something clichéd like that, correct?"
"Yeah, probably something like that!" A voice that wasn't Chespin's answered, and Pyroar turned his head a second too late to avoid a large Water Shuriken that blasted into him.
"Hey, Chespin," Froakie smiled, "You made it!"
"Did you doubt that I would?" Chespin said jokingly, "Fennekin, good to see you again, too!"
Even though they had only been apart for a short while, each of them felt truly elated to see their allies again.
"Well done, heroes," Cresselia said, "It looks like you've successfully stopped Darkrai's army from attacking Lunar Island!"
Chespin looked around at the fallen bodies of what had just a while ago been a small army of enemy Pokémon. His friends had defeated all of them, and he had only faced three real enemies? Maybe he hadn't improved as much as he thought. Still, he grinned as he realised that they had completed the mission.
Fennekin was also happy and pleased with herself. During her and Froakie's fight against the army, she had finally stood up to Drapion and Yanmega, the enemies who had captured her and brought her to the clearing-turned-battleground, and won against them.
Froakie looked at his saviour, Malamar, and his Inkay friends, who had been helping he and Fennekin fight. Malamar gave him a smile and a wink, then went off to join the other surviving residents of Lunar Island.
"Hey, idiots, I'm still alive!" Pyroar called.
He was still alive and standing, but only barely. He was severely weakened, and Chespin thought that it would be cruel to beat him down any further. Still, he had threatened to kill them…
"None of us really care about you, Pyroar," Cresselia said, "You can't do anything to us in that state. Right now you're just even more of a foolish henchman with delusions of grandeur than you ever were."
Pyroar spat on the ground, disgusted by Cresselia's harsh words. Chespin and Fennekin were laughing at what she had said, and even Froakie found it hard to suppress his smile.
"Are you fools mocking me?" Pyroar said, "Know your place, Cresselia. Even in this state, I can kill you! Then my Master would have to promote me to his finest lapdog, and that foolish newbie Absol would be sent to his rightful place, the battlefield, where he would do our dirty work!"
"Oh, would I, now?"
Pyroar's eyes widened along with Chespin and everyone else's when they turned and saw the Pokémon who had been speaking.
There he was, Darkrai. He had probably been watching the battle, and when his army had been defeated, teleported to Lunar Island. He was accompanied by Absol, the Pokémon who had spoken, and an elegant female Pokémon who looked uncomfortable.
"M-Master D-Darkrai?!" Pyroar stuttered.
Darkrai didn't look at him.
"I have no words for you, incompetent fool. Absol, you can finish him off after what he said about you."
Absol launched a pre-charged Razor Wind which, quite literally, tore Pyroar apart. The team of heroes watched in horror as Pyroar was brutally murdered.
"Greetings, Cresselia," Darkrai smiled.
"Don't greet me so casually after what your army has done to my home, you monster."
Chespin just stood there, open-mouthed. He could feel Fennekin shaking beside him. Even Froakie seemed terrified. None of them had been expecting Darkrai himself to show up with two more of his highest-ranked henchmen.
"How rude, Cresselia," Darkrai said, "Is that how you would address your own child, so to speak?
"You are no child of mine, you wretch."
"How insolent, 'mother'."
Cresselia seemed worried, and thought that this could be it for her.
"And these three must be your young saviours," Darkrai grinned at the three youths and Absol laughed mockingly.
"Absol, do not laugh. My apologies, young ones. I, for one, admire your bravery and might on the field of battle against my generals. However, you have angered me with your meddling in my affairs, so I will have to kill you alongside Lady Cresselia."
Still shaking, Chespin said, "Try us. You don't scare me… You're just a coward."
Absol growled furiously, but Darkrai silenced him by outstretching an arm.
"Now, now, Absol. He is just a child and doesn't know what he's saying. Tell me, what are your names, young ones?"
When no one answered for a few seconds, Chespin decided to speak, "I'm Chespin, and I'm going to be one of the elites of Exploud's Guild one day!"
Absol snorted with laughter again, which made Chespin want to hurt him.
"Very well met, Chespin," The Destroyer said, "And how about you, little one?" He looked at Froakie, "You're an interesting one, all right… I sense a… Darkness in your heart. Perhaps your place is not with these fools, but in the ranks of my army!"
Froakie's face flushed and he glared at Darkrai. "Shut up!" He roared defiantly, with an anger that Chespin had never seen before from his friend, "You don't know anything about me, so shut up!"
Darkrai and Absol both erupted into laughter at this. At this time, Cresselia took the opportunity to reach them with her telepathy.
Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, The Lunar Pokémon's voice telepathically reached the minds of her young heroes.
Yes, Lady Cresselia? Fennekin answered despite her fear.
You need to run. Right now, before he can attack. I'll fight him, and if I survive, I'll meet you three at the beach and we'll teleport to the Guild. I've already told my allies to start Teleporting away.
Okay, got it, Fennekin told the Legendary Pokémon.
I'm not leaving you, Lady Cresselia! Chespin protested, Darkrai could kill you! That's what he wants! Are you really gonna give him that?
I'll try my best to get away from him, Cresselia said, I promise you all that I will stay alive. Just go!
They started to move, and Darkrai roared, "Where do you think you're going?! Trying to escape and leave behind mother dearest?!"
Cresselia fired a Moonblast at him, which barely affected him despite being super effective against Dark Pokémon. It still distracted him long enough for Chespin and friends to get some distance from them.
"Hey!" Absol yelled, "Get back here, cowards!"
"Absol, Gardevoir, get after them!" Darkrai roared, "As for you, Lady Cresselia… Get ready to die!"
Please try and survive, Lady Cresselia! Fennekin urged the Lunar Pokémon telepathically as she and her friends reached the forest once more, avoiding Moonblasts and Razor Winds being fired at them by their new pursuers. Absol's shrill screams of death threats could be heard behind them, vowing to catch up to them.
I'll try, Fennekin, Cresselia answered, I'll try my best.
She then turned to her enemy with a look of disgust and hatred.
"Ready to die, mother?" Darkrai taunted, calling her 'mother' again to try and anger her. She tried to remain calm and not let it get to her.
"Not today, Darkrai."
A/N: Well, here's Chapter 25. Some crazy things happen, particularly towards the end, so I decided to split the action of Part 1's conclusion into this and Chapter 26, which will be up soon. The Battle of Lunar Island reaches its boiling point and no Pokémon is truly safe. I hope you liked the Chapter, and please review if you did. Also, thanks for 15 (It's 16 by the time I've written this) follows and favourites. See you all in the final Chapter of Part 1!
