Chapter 36: Shadows
(***)
Streams of warm gulf air washed over Lawrence's smooth body. Five-thousand feet beneath him, white-crested waves breached against the multiple patches of green that dotted Hoenn's eastern sea. He righted himself, allowing the full strength of the sun to beat on and be absorbed by his back. He swore the tips of his wings had been cold ever since Sinnoh, but now the oppressive chill was finally leaving because he'd made it back home.
He arced left, heading back towards Slateport. Although Noël's outburst still irritated him, he almost felt a sense of pride that the young pokémon had finally grown enough of a spine to stand up for himself when it counted.
On his trip, he'd learned some very interesting things, but he, loathe as he was to admit it, needed help. Enraged as he was at Reliance, he wasn't naive enough to think he could take them alone. Hopefully, the two humans could enlist the League's aid—traitors or no. They were going to need all the help they could get. Lawrence couldn't help the feeling of deep foreboding that invaded his bones. They were quickly approaching the breaking point. Something big was on the horizon, and he doubted anyone was prepared for it.
A shadow fell on him, causing him to frown. That was strange. By now monitoring the clouds during flight was second nature. He was traveling much faster than the storm headed towards Slateport, and he didn't remember-Lawrence looked up, eyes widening.
A figure floated above him, surrounded by a halo of sunlight.
"You?" he sputtered. "What are you doing back in Hoenn?" Lawrence asked, eyes narrowing. Deoxys hovered wordlessly, watching Lawrence with its constricted pupils.
"Go back to where you came from before Rayquaza involves himself," Lawrence said, trying to sound unconcerned and fly past him. Deoxys floated down, blocking his path.
"What do you want?" Lawrence asked impatiently. Its arms began to uncoil, and horns began to change position. Its skin began to morph, sliding over its body and making its extraterrestrial origin clear.
Lawrence backed away, unable to fight his growing trepidation. Deoxys had always been a loose cannon, and with a completely alien thought processes, it was difficult to reason with.
Deoxys—now in Attack Forme-watched him, unmoving.
Lawrence opened his mouth to at least attempt to make it see reason, but Deoxys flashed blue and snapped out of existence.
An icy pain slashed across Lawrence's back, sending him spiraling downwards. He managed to right himself just in time to see Deoxys teleport in front of him, whipping him across the face with a pair of glowing tendrils. Lawrence flew backward, barely managing to cast Protect in time to see Deoxys teleport to the left, its arms colliding with the glowing barrier.
Lawrence gasped for breath, feeling the where dark-type attacks had struck him, draining his psychic power. What was that? Pursuit? Deoxys circled the barrier, lashing out at it. Checking for weaknesses.
Deoxys began to glow light blue, and it coiled its arms together, raising them above its head then slamming it down on the barrier. It rippled like a bubble about to pop.
Lawrence gasped at the impact, putting all his strength into maintaining the barrier. Deoxys hovered back, watching Lawrence.
Arceus, was he going to try to wait him out? He couldn't maintain the shield forever. Lawrence could fly faster than a jet plane, but he knew he couldn't outrun Deoxys, not when it had Teleport. Maybe he could hold on long enough for Rayquaza to—Deoxys vanished.
Lawrence's eyes widened, and he spun around, frantically scanning the sky for signs—
A hard blow hit him on the back of his skull, causing sparks to dance across his field vision. Vaguely, he felt his hold on Protect slip. Darkness began to close in on all sides, and he distantly felt the sensation of falling.
He looked up as his vision faded, seeing a dark form descend on him. The world went black, and only one thought filled Lawrence's failing mind.
"He teleported inside Protect…"
(***)
A/N: Five little Indian Boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Did I say earlier we had the last Lawrence short? I wasn't even trying to fool you guys I just completely forgot this existed. So what's up with Lawrence and Deoxys? Theories? Also, out of curiosity to those reading chapters as I release them: how much longer do you think the story has left?