Chapter Fifty-One- Dragon Master
"Rina?" Lux greeted, entering her hospital room. He gasped, finding the Aine Eld next to her empty bed. "Aine?"
"Hey, Amity." She groaned. "I came to check on your friend."
"Was she gone when you arrived?" He inquired, affably.
"Yeah." She confirmed, holding out a note. "I found this."
He reached out and took the note, before reading it to himself.
Lux,
I can't stay here. I know you're confused. Just go to the Dragon Tower in New Fang. New Order plans to awaken Zekrom.
Rina
"Well…" He grimaced, leaving the room. "I really didn't want to face Ryuu yet…"
"I'm joining you." Aine asserted, following him. "I'm not your enemy anymore."
"Good." Lux smirked. "Could always use more allies. Let's get to New Fang."
…...
"Where are you going!?" Ryuu interrogated Siegfried as he descended the mountain. "Are you really stealing the master's runt of an Axew!?"
"If he won't treat the little guy with the respect he deserves…" Siegfried snarled. "Then he doesn't deserve to see him surpass his Dragonite!"
"Don't insult my father!" Ryuu snapped, grabbing him by the arm. "Why can't you see that he's only trying to prevent the weak from dragging you down!?"
"Only a fool believes that the weak will drag him down!" He rebutted, pulling his arm away. "I'll turn Axew into a mighty Haxorus! Together, we'll become Champion!"
…...
The next day, Lux and the group arrived at New Fang, rushing up the mountain steps.
"So, first we have to climb the Mountain of the Devastation to gain access to the Dragon Tower." Niles explained, leading the group up the steps. Albert shuffled over to his sister's side.
"So, you're joining us?" He interrogated.
"Yeah." She nodded. A small Treecko rode on her shoulder. "Gonna whine?"
"No." He confirmed. "I'm just glad that you're okay."
"I'm the toughest sibling." She smirked, terrifyingly. "How could you forget that?"
"Fair enough." He accepted. "...But, are you really going to be okay?"
"What're you talking about?" She groaned.
"Purgatory." He elaborated. "It couldn't have been easy..."
"Don't be an idiot. I already told you, I'm fine." She groaned, marching ahead.
"Got it…" Albert sighed. Luna quickly maneuvered her way to Lux's side.
"Lux." She grimaced. "Can we talk?"
"Sure." He tilted his head in response. "What's up?"
"Am I…" She leaned in, whispering. "Am I not good enough? I couldn't help my father. I got kidnapped. I even failed to help your mother."
"...Don't worry about it." Lux commanded. "Just smile, alright? Gena is by your side, remember?"
"I…" She frowned, before giving a pained smile. "Okay! Let's go stop New Order!" She jumped, sprinting ahead.
"Just keep smiling…" Lux scowled. "Don't make that stupid face… Right…" He shook his head, continuing alongside his friends. After an hour, they reached the top, entering an enclosure consisting of three buildings. They consisted of what appeared to be a gym, a herb shop, and a large temple. A long path led to a waterfall spring.
"Okay." Niles announced, pointing to the temple. "Let's go see Ryuu. I'll do the talking."
"Right." Lux agreed, entering the temple with the group. The interior consisted of a single large room with columns along the sides. A large tan man dressed in a teal and orange outfit stood near the end, meditating. Their steps echoed throughout the room as they approached.
"Halt." The man ordered, causing them to stop seven feet from him. He slowly rose to face them. "I am Ryuu Wyrm. Speak."
"Yeah, we need access to the Dragon Tower." Niles explained, firmly. "Open the way."
"Fang." He growled, shifting to the group. His eyes widened as he noticed Luna, before calming down. "Who are they?"
"Nero Berk." Nero greeted.
"Aine Eld..." Aine groaned.
"Albert Eld." Albert greeted.
"Gena Apple..." Gena asserted.
"Luna Apple!" Luna twirled.
"Lux… Amity." Lux paused.
"Amity…" Ryuu snarled, shifting from Luna to Lux. "Siegfried Amity's kid…"
"Yes." He nodded, warily. "My dad warned me about you…"
"I won't allow you to pass." Ryuu denied. "Not with him by your side."
"You!?" He snapped. "We have to stop New Order! You can't just refuse to let us pass!"
"I can." Ryuu glared at him. "Unless you defeat me."
"Very well." He agreed, reaching for his Pokeballs.
"No." Ryuu held out his hand. "If you're Siegfried's son… Then you have a dragon of your own, correct?"
"Yeah." He confirmed, sending out Fraxure. "I won't-"
"That!?" Ryuu wailed in laughter. "Of course your father would give you such a runt!"
"Runt!?" Lux interrogated.
"It's at least a foot smaller than the average Fraxure." He sneered. "How pathetic."
"You want to repeat that!?" Lux threatened.
"In the gym." He commanded, leaving the temple. "We'll fight there."
"Runt…?" Lux grimaced, chasing after him. The rest of the group paced after him, entering the red building. It was rather large, with a single platform on each side. A large empty hole sat in the center of it all. Fraxure jumped into it, while Ryuu took his place on the opposite side.
"Allow me to show you a real dragon." He boasted, sending out a Dragonite. It stood several feet above Fraxure. "A one on one battle. Come son of Siegfried."
"Outrage!" Lux commanded. Fraxure spun around, enveloping the field in flames. Dragonite took the attack with ease, before letting out a powerful roar.
"Hyper Beam." Ryuu grinned. Dragonite fired a massive blast from its mouth, launching Fraxure back in defeat. "Weak."
"And that's bad?" Lux interrogated. "Being weak is bad?"
"Exactly." Ryuu shook his head. "The weak like your Fraxure don't deserve to call themselves dragons. Dragon's are the mightiest beings. They only respect the strong."
"Ironic…" Lux mumbled. "Ironic that your mighty dragons can be so easily defeated by a puny fairy!"
"Enough talk, child." Ryuu demanded. "Leave. Fang, you may enter the tower, but without him."
"No." Niles refused, tossing out Dragalge. "I'm not going to leave my friend behind! If I defeat you, then we'll be allowed to enter the tower together!"
"I won't allow that." Ryuu persisted. "I hate your parents as much as Lux's. They go on and on about friendship and the bonds between trainer and Pokemon. They refuse to understand that only the truly strong Pokemon will win in the end."
"Enough!" Niles snapped. "I won't allow anyone to insult my parents! I challenge you to a gym battle, Ryuu Wyrm!"
"Fine." He accepted. "Everyone else, leave." He demanded, causing the others to exit. "This'll be a one on one, understood?"
"Dragalge!" Niles tossed out his first Pokemon. Ryuu responded with his Dragonite.
"Good." He remarked. "Dragon Rush!"
"Draco Meteor!" Niles countered. Dragalge bombarded Dragonite with a volley of comets. It nimbly dodged every attack, before shining a bright blue and charging Dragalge. "Dodge it!" Niles commanded. Dragalge slapped himself off the ground, evading the attack. "Good work! Sludge Wave!" Dragalge lobbed a massive wave of sludge at Dragonite. It forced itself up, shuddering in pain.
"Sky Drop!" Ryuu demanded. Dragonite flew behind Dragalge, dragging him into the air.
"Wait for it!" Niles shouted. Dragonite shuddered once again as it prepared to drop Dragalge. "Now!" Dragalge struck Dragonite, causing it to drop him. On his way down, he blasted the opponent when its guard was down. The two fell with a thud, before Dragalge picked himself up in victory. "We won."
"Very well." Ryuu sighed, tossing him a dragon face badge. "The Devastation Badge."
"I'm only accepting it because my parents moved up." He insulted. "I would never accept a badge from you otherwise. Now, we're going to the Dragon Tower, and you can't stop us."
"Whatever." Ryuu snarled. "I only let those New Order fools in because their leader defeated me. I can respect power."
"You're a disgrace." He scoffed, leaving the arena.
…...
Luna sat beside the waterfall, waiting for Niles to finish his battle. She patted the shallow waters with her fingers, lost in thought. What could she do to help? Where to start?
"Ab!" A Pokemon cried. She twisted to face an Absol at the top of the waterfall. It leapt from the top, landing in the spring. "Sol!"
"Hello?" She stood up. "What're you doing?"
"Sol!" It cried again, preparing to pounce. It had a Mega Stone wrapped around its neck and a satchel on its side.
"Char!" Luna jumped back, tossing out her partner. "Fire Blast!"
"Ab!" It cried, charging its horn with psychic energy. Char fired a blast of flames at the opponent. It hopped over the attack, countering with a Psycho Cut. Char reeled back in pain, covering her claws in draconic energy. She charged the assailant, unleashing a flurry of slashes. Absol nimbly dodged each strike, countering with its own slashes. Char stumbled back, struggling to continue.
"Char!?" Luna gasped. She hastily reached for her Pokeball, only to get slashed away by the Absol. She fell to the side, causing a small blue stone to fall out of her bag. It began to roll to Char's side.
"Ab-Sol." Absol trotted towards her, pulling something from its bag. It placed a small rainbow shard next to her hand, jumping back. "Ab-Ab-Sol!"
"Why…?" Luna struggled, grasping the small crystal in her right hand. It shattered in grip, with the dust floating around her Keystone. It began to shine brightly, gaining a rainbow shine. She forced herself up, facing the Absol.
"Sol!" It growled, charging her. Char let out a piercing shriek, slamming into the attacker. She began to shine alongside her Keystone, before morphing into a black and blue form. She followed up with an enormous Fire Blast, staggering the opponent.
"Char?" Luna gasped, before smirking. "Dragon Claw!"
"Ab-Sol!" It roared, charging Char. Char struck Absol, launching it back, before it swung a second Psycho Cut at her. She took the attack, before countering with another Fire Blast. Absol fell to the ground, struggling to get up. It glared at Luna expectantly.
"This?" She gulped, pulling out a Pokeball. It continued to glare at her. "O-okay…" She nodded, tossing the ball at it. The ball fell to the ground, before giving a single satisfying click. She ran over, retrieving the ball, tossing out her new Absol. "Welcome aboard!"
"Sol." It stood proud, turning to Char. She reverted to her normal form, and approached her new ally, letting out a welcoming cry. "Ab!" Absol beamed.
"Okay!" She laughed. "Let's go get you healed up!"
"Impressive." Aine clapped, approaching her. "So, that little lizard grew pretty strong."
"Aine!" Luna giggled. "We did it!"
"Not bad." She smirked, terrifyingly. "You're going far."
"Hey…" Luna tilted her head, observing Aine's expression. "Why do you smile like that?"
"The hell are you yapping about?" She scowled. "You making fun of my smile?"
"No." Luna denied. "It's just that Gena does something similar. She hides her real smile. Why can't you two just smile? Why don't you show people your real beauty?"
"Helix you're an idiot.." She swore.
"Hey!" Nero interrupted from the distance. "Niles just won! We're going to the Dragon Tower!"
…...
Lux sat on the staircase, alone. He needed to smile… He frowned, punching the column beside him. He leaned back, watching the sun in the sky. Numerous clouds diluted the sky. A cool chill ran across the land. He ran his hand through his growing hair. It had been getting longer… He remembered, rummaging through his bag. Inside, a single photo of him and his parents stood. They had taken it in front of the manor a few days after his birth. His mother held him as an infant, while his father scowled, two tears streaming down his face. What stupid face... Lux smiled, wearily. His mother looked the exact same. Her steel eyes reflected the sun's rays, beautifully. His father had his hair pulled back into a ponytail. His hair was charcoal, a lighter shade than Lux's, and his eyes were a deep blue.
"Frax." Fraxure groaned, sitting next to him. Lux scratched the dragon on his head spike. Fraxure let out a pleased purring sound.
"Don't worry, I'm not giving up. Not yet." He reassured. A green light began to shine from his hand, a tiny green stone forming in it. He stared into it, before placing it into his bag. "Let's go."
…...
The group quickly made their way to the tower. Draco and Linda waited for them, defeating numerous New Order grunts.
"Sup?" Draco grinned. "You kids alright?"
"Just fine." Luna skipped.
"Where's Lux?" Linda inquired.
"Dunno." Niles groaned. "I managed to convince Ryuu to let him come, only for him to not show."
"I'm here." Lux announced with a smirk. "Let's go."
…...
"Anri." Galen turned to his daughter atop the Dragon Tower. "Go hold off our intruders... but don't push yourself."
"Understood..." She nodded, distantly. She slowly made her way down the stairs, as Ford approached him.
"Everything's coming together." Ford reported, preparing an upgraded DNA Splicer. "All we need to do is acquire Zekrom and we'll have the Original Dragon."
"Wonderful." Galen praised. "Nox won't stand a chance."
