Author's Note: Alright! We've made it to the final battle, and the next chapter will be the finale as planned! This took me all day to write, but it's finally up and ready to go! This chapter's pretty damn dark, so be prepared for anything! But, without any further ado at all, here's Chapter 34! The final battles, everyone! Happy Reading, and enjoy!

With every step I took that carried me further into the throne room, every last Team Plasma member (including N's sisters, the remaining Sages, and the Shadow Triad; the latter group looking away from me with remorse and self-doubt) stood at attention on each side of the walk path.

The path of Plasma Grunts soon came to an end as I approached N, who was still enveloped in a mystical white aura and his eyeballs burning completely cyan. This time, N was wearing a king's cape colored completely white with the collar having red swirl-like flames for its design and tied together by a blue gem. Attached to his sides were two white scabbards decorated with red-orange flames. He stood up and looked me dead in my crimson-engulfed eyes; expression still grim and serious.

"You still oppose the truth?" N asked calmly, standing up from his throne and walking closer. "Hmph, I'd expect no less from you, Hynden. You were always one to fight for what you stand for. Perhaps that's the only good thing about you. But know this; I definitely plan on doing the same."

"That doesn't mean I'm going to let you win," I retorted, glaring at him as the red energy still poured from my scleras. "What Ghetsis is making you do is wrong, and I'm going to make you see that. This world's gonna go straight down if you separate Pokémon from their Trainers and human friends."

"What do you know?! I'll admit that perhaps you have been treating your Pokémon like living creatures rather than tools, but how many others do that?! From what Father has shown me-"

"Exactly. You've only seen what Ghetsis has wanted you to see! Yes, I'll admit there are bad Trainers in this world, but there are good ones too. The world isn't just black or white; both sides exist too. Your problem is that Ghetsis hasn't shown you the full story, so he's messed with your views. Didn't Lady Dionaea tell you differently?"

"Grrr, how do you know what Mom used to tell me?!"

"Concordia and Anthea told me the whole thing. But, if you don't wanna hear it from me, then I guess I'll have to convince you the hard way."

"So be it! Let's make our last battle together interesting. When I win and the world finally embraces the truth, you must work by my side as my eternal partner. However, should you win and your ideals prove to be superior, then not only will I surrender the Champion title to you, but I and anyone associated shall never set foot in Unova for as long as I live."

"Sounds like a plan! I can't wait until this place is rid of you and your garbage comrades! Also, how could I refuse the title of Champion from anyone I earn it from?"

N and I backed away from each other, PokéBalls firm in our aura-emanating palms. N was the first to send out his Pokémon, which was a large blue armored sea turtle by the name of Carracosta. In retaliation, I called out Bianca. When each Pokémon took the stage, they both shuddered as their eyes glowed bright red (Bianca) and blue (Carracosta).

"What the hell…?" Bianca breathed, "I feel so… weird, so strong! Hynden, are you doing this?"

"It must be the Dark Stone," I guessed. "Whatever its doing, it's a little boost for you! Use Magical Leaf!"

"Carracosta, use Stone Edge!" N commanded.

Carracosta summoned forth its lethal stones from the very ground and hurled them towards Bianca. The attack seemed a lot stronger than a usual Stone Edge; they were much larger and surrounded by Reshiram's blue essence. Likewise, when Bianca smashed through the rocks as if they were made of tissue paper using Magical Leaf, her leaves were bright red like Zekrom's eyes rather than multiple colors. She then countered with a critical Giga Drain, making Carracosta go down in seconds.

"Rest well, my friend," N said to his fainted Pokémon. "Go, Vanilluxe!"

The ice cream-like Pokémon was an obvious Ice-type, so I withdrew Bianca for Piko. Like Bianca, Piko's eyes flared up with a bright red color, this time with added flames due to him being a partial Fire-type.

"Piko, Heat Crash," I commanded.

"Vanilluxe, use Flash Cannon," N told it.

When Piko leaped into the air and surrounded himself in a burning blaze that was now colored bright crimson, he began his lethal descent. But, that was prevented when Vanilluxe fired a bright ball that flashed white when it made contact with Piko. I opened my eyes when the flash died down and saw Piko on the ground in the deep hole he had created.

"Piko!" I screamed, feeling my dark aura become stronger with fear.

"I'm alright, Hynden," Piko assured me as he got up, quelling my fury just in time.

"Use Flamethrower!" I exclaimed.

With one fiery blast, Piko annihilated Vanilluxe as it fell to the floor critically injured. I noticed N's aura flare up for a second as his eyebrows furrowed with anger and Vanilluxe went back to its PokéBall.

"Impressive, Hynden," N remarked, calling out his next Pokémon. "However, I can't let you beat me. I may like you as a potential comrade, but I still can't trust you. That's why, you must fall."

I said nothing to N and called out Gummy to fight N's strange multi-colored bird Pokémon with red feet. Like before, our Pokémon absorbed a portion of the energy being given off by their Trainers, as evident in the change of eye color.

"Archeops, Dragon Claw," N instructed.

"Gummy, Foul Play!" I shouted.

Archeops' glowing sharp claws tried to pierce Gummy's body, but my Krookodile grabbed it by the wrist and flung it across the room. Archeops flew back into the main center and attacked Gummy with Stone Edge, a few of which critically hit Gummy, but the others were destroyed by his power.

"Finish him!" I exclaimed.

Gummy sunk his teeth into Archeops' wing with Crunch, which glowed bright red as opposed it its usual darkness. The bird fell to the ground with an injured wing, prompting N to recall it early.

"That's far enough, Archeops," N said with a smile. "Zoroark, let's go."

N's next Pokémon was a black and red mammalian Pokémon that stood on its hind legs. It let out a cry of power as it felt Reshiram's energy course through its veins; its already blue eyes now glowing brightly. I sent Gummy back to his Ball and called out Jackie, whose muscles flexed with power simultaneously with the red energy filling his irises.

"Yikes," I remarked, wincing a little in the face. "Jackie, use Close Combat!"

Jackie recklessly charged forth and began slamming his fists into Zoroark, who immediately deflected his hits every time. At the end, Zoroark struck Jackie with a critical Focus Blast from its mouth.

"Don't stop now, Jackie!" I encouraged. "Use Close Combat again!"

This time, the moment Zoroark let its guard down, Jackie was able to take it down with several hits to its body. Within minutes, Zoroark had been defeated and recalled to its PokéBall.

"Good job, Jackie," I said to him. "Return. Morrow, it's your turn to fight!"

"A Flying-type? Well, I have just the Pokémon to fight. I must warn you; you won't like it. Klinklang, go!"

N's Pokémon looked like a large gear with a smaller gear attached to it while surrounded by a white metal ring. I gasped when I saw Klinklang was a pure Steel-type, but my fear and anger made my aura burn stronger as electric currents began crackling around me. But, I stopped myself to make sure I don't lose control like the previous Hero warned me in the past.

"How gauche," I spat. "Using my own worst fear against me."

"I'm still gonna fight you!" Morrow insisted. "You're never gonna bring me down!"

Eyes bright red with mystic energy, Morrow charged in and grabbed Klinklang by its body, preparing for a Sky Drop attack. When he was at a high enough level, Morrow dropped his opponent straight into the ground.

"Klinklang, use Metal Sound," N ordered, grinning evilly. "That ought to get things really moving!"

Klinklang released an audible screeching sound, causing everyone to block their ears instinctively. But for me, the move made cruel memories flash over and over in my head. From my encounter with Lulu's murderer Magneton to the very sight of her dying in front of me after I nearly died myself. Although the sound faded, my aura grew blacker, and the electricity around me more wild than ever.

"That's it, Hynden," N laughed, "summon forth Zekrom with your pain! Now it's almost time for the last round! Klinklang, use Flash Cannon!"

Charging up a bright light that soon turned bright blue, Klinklang fired it directly at Morrow. I couldn't stand to see what I believed would transpire, so I shut my eyes tight, pain and suffering accruing in my heart and the energy. As if the Dark Stone had reacted wildly before, now it was almost out of control near me.

"MORROOOOOW!" I screamed, my vision now pure scarlet and my aura becoming the darkest of black as it went out of control. The force was powerful enough to unravel my French braid until my hair waved wildly before falling down a little past the top of my back.

In midst of my fury, the Dark Stone began to change. It hexed my shadow into fusing with it until the two formed a larger being that continued to grow and grow until the being crashed through the ceiling of the throne room. Thunder roared in the dark sky, blue lightning flashed in its presence. Everyone (myself included) gazed upon the figure, and we all knew it was one Pokémon in particular.

"Welcome, Zekrom," N chuckled, clapping slowly as his white aura began fusing with the Light Stone. "We've all been waiting for you."

I looked back at the battlefield, calming a tad bit when I saw that Morrow had just barely dodged the Flash Cannon. But, I refused to risk anything happening to another Flying-type I held dear to me, so I withdrew him minutes after N did the same to his Klinklang.

"You've done well, Morrow," I said to him. "Let's end this, N."

"I thought you'd never ask, Hynden," N replied, unsheathing two medieval swords from the scabbards on his sides. His swords both bore a symbol that appeared to be three strange swirls surrounding a triangle. "And now, with Reshiram and the Blades of Inferno by my side, I, Nigel Amadeus Harmonia, shall at last conquer you!"

N's white shadow began growing until Reshiram took its form again, letting out a roar as harsh flames escaped its mouth. My black aura began conjuring something around my chest, which turned out to be a black knight's cloak adorned with blue electrical lines and tied by a crimson gem in the center. I unsheathed Storm's Blade from its scabbard, grasping the katana's handle firmly in my palms.

"You won't win this!" I exclaimed.

"We'll see about that," N retorted.

Before I knew it, a strong force from Zekrom overcame me, and I charged at N with newly-found skill and control of my katana, which was now enveloped in a pitch black aura as the symbol in it glowed bright blue with an electrical current. I swung the blade, and it managed to slice N across the chest and tear through his shirt and a little bit of his body. The cut was starting to bleed, but most of the blood had been re-absorbed due to Reshiram's energy. In retaliation, N swung at me with both of his swords, which only left cuts in my arms rather than severing them.

"Urgh…" I breathed, clutching one of my arms as the blood retreated back into my body.

Holding onto my katana again, I ran towards N and slashed him, only for him to blockade my attack with his own swords. He tried striking down with them, but I defended myself with my katana. When I let go, I slashed N in his side, causing him to cry out in pain. He in turn tried to slash me again; one blade missed me entirely, but the other managed to cut me down my right eyelid.

"AUGH! My eye!" I wailed, clutching the cut eyelid with my hand.

When I took the hand off of my eyelid, I was relieved to know that I could still see out of it due to the blade failing to actually cut deep into my eyeball. But, the blood that hadn't been soaked up ran down my cheek and dripped onto the floor. With my katana in both hands, I tried striking N, but he blocked with his own swords. N then tried hitting me with his swords one by one, but I held my katana up, dull side pressed against my hand as N continued to strike at the katana using his swords. Eventually, I broke free of the attack attempt, causing N to fall backwards.

"This sword-fighting is getting us nowhere," I decided before turning to Zekrom. "Attack with Fusion Bolt."

"Reshiram, use your Fusion Flare attack!" N told Reshiram quickly.

Reshiram and Zekrom stood behind us, bound to our unique shadows. From Zekrom's body charged a bright force field of blue electricity as its tail turbines opened with blue rings illuminating it in each row. Reshiram's tail turbines also activated and burned a bright shade of red-orange, a large ball of pure heat charging in its mouth. Once both attacks were fully charged, they were released in large beams and collided with each other. The attacks fought for dominance as Reshiram and Zekrom kept it up; one attack pushing into the other. Eventually, the power of the attacks set off a large explosion, which everyone in the room took cover from. The rest of the room had been obliterated, large chasms taking the place of the walls and most of the items inside of the room completely charred or destroyed. N and I soon came to, discovering that Reshiram and Zekrom were gone along with their essences over the two of us; aura, garments and all. Strangely enough, I felt something enter my entire being when I took cover from the explosion seconds ago.

"I feel… strange," I breathed, looking down and placing a hand to my chest. "As if something's still taking over me."

"Same here," N panted, feeling his own chest. He then stood up and looked at me with a somber expression. "Well, I guess you've won, Hynden. The battle, the Champion's title… everything."

"I won…?" I breathed, eyes widening. "Yes! I'm finally the Champion, and Unova's saved!" To make sure N wouldn't pull anymore tricks, I held the tip of my katana's blade to his neck with a dark look in my gray eyes. "Now, I believe we had a deal?"

Before N could respond to my statement, we heard one person's applause from behind. Turning around, we figured out that Ghetsis was the person in question, and he had an evil smile on his face. But when he looked at N, his expression turned to one of disappointment and anger.

"Pathetic," he hissed. "And to think I raised a true king, not some weak little loser who can't do anything correctly!"

"F-Father, I-" N began.

"Don't you 'Father' me, Nigel! You're nothing but an insolent little worm! You have failed to defeat this little tramp over here!"

"Tramp?!" I snapped, cracking my knuckles.

Ignoring me, Ghetsis walked over, grabbed N by the collar, and tossed him aside. Adding insult to literal injury, he stomped once on the poor boy's head, trapping him underneath his father's foot as tears leaked from the younger Harmonia's defeated eyes.

"How could you even stand to call me your father after that performance?" Ghetsis sneered, digging his sole deeper onto N's head as N cried out in pain. "I knew I shouldn't have used you to help me conquer all of Unova!"

"Wh-What…?" N breathed in disbelief. "Conquer Unova? But Father, you said you wanted what was best for the Pokémon; for everyone! Isn't that what you told everyone?"

"Ha! And you were all idiotic to believe I actually cared about that! Never once were those my intentions; I only said that so I had associates to help me rule all! But now that all of you have served your purpose, you mean nothing to me as you always have! That includes you, Nigel. If anyone is unworthy of me, it's the very amoeba who dares call himself my child."

Ghetsis took his foot off of N, leaving him to stare ahead with dull eyes of shock. I couldn't believe what was happening before me, and frankly, neither could the rest of Team Plasma. They looked on at the man they once revered with utter disgust and shock that he had all played them for fools.

"And what are you all looking at?!" Ghetsis snapped at his other minions. "You're all just as bad as him! But now that I'm going to conquer Unova, I'm going to rid this world of everything that stands in my way! Starting with you!"

Ghetsis unsheathed his own blade designed in Team Plasma's image and raised it high above a shocked N, who kept pleading for mercy. But, his pleas of course fell on deaf ears. Just as Ghetsis was about to wrongfully end his son's life, I stepped in and countered the blade with my own, knocking the sword far across the room. Ghetsis looked at me with eyes full of pure venomous anger.

"Don't touch him, you monster," I snarled, still glaring at him with my katana in my hands. "If anyone doesn't deserve to be a relative, it's you! How the hell could you call yourself his father?!"

"I've been asking myself the same exact question for the longest time," Ghetsis retorted with disgust, turning away from a still-shocked N. "But, since it's abundantly clear that you won't yield to me, then I'll have to dispose of you too!"

"I'd like to see you try, Ghetsis," I taunted, taking out one of my PokéBalls.

"Oh, so you'd like to settle this with another battle? Very well then, I accept your challenge, Heroine of Ideals! When I defeat you, everything will be mine! Today, Unova, tomorrow, the entire world!"

I walked to the opposite side of what remained of the room when my PokéBalls started to glow a pale shade of bright pink. Turning to the Plasma Grunt, I saw that Anthea was healing my Pokémon again, so I nodded to her as thanks. Now that my team was healthy again, I re-sheathed my katana and tossed the first PokéBall at the same time Ghetsis did his.

"Cofagrigus, go!" he shouted.

"Gummy, stand by!" I exclaimed.

Gummy and Cofagrigus stood at attention, facing each other. Cofagrigus was the first to attack with Toxic, wrapping its ghostly arms around Gummy and injecting him with a deadly poison. Gummy cringed and winced at the pain surging through his body, but he pulled himself together and fought.

"Gummy, use Crunch!" I told him.

Lunging forward, Gummy's sharp teeth emanated a natural dark aura as he sunk them deep into Cofagrigus. Before the Ghost-type had a chance to attack, Gummy merely used another Crunch attack and defeated it. Ghetsis didn't hesitate to send out his next Pokémon in the form of a brown bull with a darker brown afro. I recalled Gummy in favor of Jackie, who looked ready to fight again.

"Bouffalant, use Head Charge!" Ghetsis commanded.

"Jackie, defend with Brick Break!" I shouted.

Bouffalant scuffled its hooves against the ground before charging at Jackie with a savage yell. But, its attempt to attack my Sawk was foiled the moment Jackie slammed his fist into Bouffalant's muzzle. Bleeding from the nostrils, Bouffalant fell to the ground with a THUD, prompting Ghetsis to sneer and recall it.

"Some fighter you are…" he scoffed before tossing two more PokéBalls. "Seismitoad, Bisharp, let's go!"

I could still feel Zekrom's energy as its blue electricity crackled with anger when I looked at Bisharp. I sent out Bianca and Piko to battle, and they easily conquered their opponents. With a Flamethrower from Piko on Bisharp, and Bianca using Giga Drain on Seismitoad, two more of Ghetsis' Pokémon went down.

"I won't… I will not yield!" Ghetsis growled, recalling his defeated Pokémon. "I'm not going to let some bratty teenager defeat me! Eelektross, Hydreigon, come out!"

I knew about Eelektross' unique ability, so I had to make sure Gummy didn't use any Ground-type moves against it when I sent him and Morrow out to fight. With a tag teamed Crunch followed by an Aerial Ace, Eelektross was defeated soon before it had the chance to attack Morrow.

"Great job, guys!" I cheered before my gray eyes widened with horror at Hydreigon.

Unbeknownst to my Pokémon, Hydreigon was charging up a surprise attack that I recognized as Dragon Pulse. Gummy noticed it in time right before Ghetsis gave the command to release the attack, and quickly rushed over to Morrow, who was firm on the ground.

"Look out, Kid!" Gummy shouted, shoving Morrow out of the way.

Although Morrow was safe from harm, both of our eyes couldn't believe what happened next. Hydreigon's Dragon Pulse was quick and pierced right through Gummy's body; blood gushing everywhere as my Krookodile fell to the ground.

"Gummy!" I screamed, quickly running over to him. Hydreigon was about to attack me and prevent me from getting close to Gummy, but Morrow stopped him with Air Slash.

"Not my Trainer, you dick!" Morrow exclaimed, taking Hydreigon out with a critical Aerial Ace attack, causing it to fall straight to the ground as Morrow joined me by Gummy's side.

"Gummy, you gotta pull through!" I pleaded, tears starting to form in my eyes.

"Ah, sorry, Hynden…" Gummy coughed, "but this is as far as I go. At least… at least I got to help make you a Champion."

"Oh man, Gummy, I'm sorry!" Morrow apologized tearfully, "If I'd have been more careful, then you wouldn't have-"

"Hey, don't… don't sweat it..." Gummy insisted, "We're teammates to the end, so I couldn't let a brotha get himself iced. Hynden, I'd love to stay and all… but I can't. You'll go far without me... now that you saved the world from Plasma and became Champion like ya dreamed…"

"But, I didn't want you to go down, Gummy!" I wailed, hugging his head as the tears refused to stop falling.

"Shhh… it's okay, kiddo… No matter what, you'll always be the best Trainer I ever had… so I gotta thank you for that. Now, I gotta go now; Tooth's waitin' for me, and you know she hates being kept waiting…"

With his last breath exhaled and his final words spoken, Gummy's eyes slowly shut one last time, never to open again. When I realized he was gone, I knelt my head against Gummy's lifeless one, sobs escaping me as my heart clenched with pain and sorrow. Morrow hugged me somberly with his wings, tears escaping his eyes as he choked back sobs of his own.

"...Impossible!" Ghetsis exclaimed in anger, "How could I have been defeated by you?! A weak little girl who bawls over a fallen Pokémon; it's pathetic! I can't believe this! I'm the perfect being, the rightful ruler, the strongest there is!"

Ghetsis' boasts and idiotic words reawakened a deep hatred and rage within me. As he kept rambling on, more tears escaped my eyes (that were starting to glow red again for some reason) as I unsheathed my katana and walked towards Ghetsis.

"-And furthermore, you are to kneel before me with all of Unova!" he continued, "Someone like you shouldn't have beaten an all perfect being like me! Especially not with such pathetic freaks you call your Pokémon-"

"ENOUGH!" I bellowed, slashing my katana deep across his right eyeball.

I noticed I cut deeper than I thought, evidenced by the sliced red monocle and the blood seeping through Ghetsis' hands as he clutched his wounded right eye. Just then, Alder and Cheren walked into the room with angered looks on their faces. Both expressions flashed to worry when they saw my injuries and scarred eyelid, N still lying on the ground in tears, and Gummy's lifeless corpse on the ground in a pool of his own blood.

"Your joyride's over, Ghetsis," Alder said seriously, grabbing Ghetsis by both arms. "I'm turning you in for good.

"No, you're not!" Ghetsis objected, trying to wrestle himself from Alder's strong grip. "It's not over!"

"Yes it is, you madman," Cheren stated. "Just give up already." Cheren then ran over to me with great concern after Alder marched out of the room with a fussing Ghetsis. "Hynden, are you alright? What happened?"

"...I beat N and Ghetsis," I sighed, still somber, "but Gummy went down in the line of duty. N also handed the Champion title over to me, but it's not as exciting as it was earlier."

"Hynden, I'm so sorry," Cheren said sincerely. "Would you like for me to take care of things? I'll help you lay him to rest if you'd like."

"Thanks, Cheren. I'd appreciate that…" I sighed before looking at N, who refused me eye contact. "N, it's alright. Ghetsis is gone now, so you don't have to worry."

Without saying anything, N merely stood up and folded his arms, still refusing me eye contact until he finally found the courage to speak up. When he faced me, his eyes were completely defeated and broken.

"Everything I stood for…" he breathed, "It was just a dirty lie…"

"That's not true," I assured him, walking to his side. "Even though Ghetsis used you, weren't you still fighting for what you truly believed in? What you thought was the truth of the world, you still kept faith in that! You just thought your stupid dad had the same belief is all."

"So I did. I still want a world where Pokémon can be at peace and happy, but I was wrong to listen to my father. I never knew that Pokémon with true human companions existed, all because I was blinded by ignorance. But, Hynden, you've finally made me acknowledge your ideals. And I must thank you for helping me see the real truth that I was missing."

Unexpectedly, Reshiram reformed from N's shadow after it turned white again. This time, N wasn't surrounded by its aura at all, even as he hopped onto its back. Before he could take off, I stopped him.

"N, don't go!" I told him.

"But, I must," he responded. "You're the Champion, and I must follow your banishment. Besides, I still have a lot about myself that I need to figure out."

"You're right, I am the Champion. So, I'm gonna settle a new compromise."

"Compromise?"

"Yep! You will be allowed to come back to Unova… but not for another two years. That should be enough time to get you to settle things with yourself, right?"

"That sounds good to me. In the meantime, Reshiram and I will stick together, and we'll be on the road to finding the answer! We're going to take that time to understand humans and Pokémon so we can finally improve."

N climbed off of Reshiram and embraced me happily. I returned the hug back before we pulled apart, and N returned to Reshiram's back.

"Farewell, Champion Hynden! And may Unova prosper under your reign!" N said to me as Reshiram soared away from the throne room and into the dusking sky.

"Until we meet again, N Harmonia!" I called to him, waving until he was completely out of sight.

When I turned away from where N had vanished, I looked back at Gummy's corpse being lifted onto the back of Cheren's Samurott with sadness. His body was a reminder to me of mistakes I promised myself I wouldn't make, and yet it happened anyways. N's words also made me think of what I was going to do for myself, and for the Unova region now that I was Champion.

"Hynden, let's go home," Cheren said to me as he walked by me with Samurott and Gummy's lifeless remains. "There's lots to do."

I recalled the weary Morrow to his PokéBall and followed Cheren out of the now-desolate throne room. Even as we eventually found the way out of N's Castle and we started discussing earlier and possible future events, my thoughts about my unique plans never once left my mind. Sooner or later, I was going to have to figure things out for myself by the Coronation Ceremony that was to take place sometime before the end of November.

Pokémon obtained: None.

Deaths: Gummy the Krookodile, Lvl. 15-50

Boxed/Unboxed: None.

Author's Note: Well, that's it for all of the battles! This chapter was a doozy, wasn't it, folks? I still hope you enjoyed every last word of it! But, it's not quite over yet; there's still one more chapter to go! So, stay tuned for the finale in Chapter 35!