Oh yeah! I'm the pokemon fanfic MASTER!
*prepares barrier for whoever says otherwise*
This particular chapter was twice-thrice as long in word document than all my other chapters! But hey, it is an EPIC scene! This is it! The final fight scene! Kate's going up against big enemies that could plunge Almia into a permanent era of shadows!
(*) is in the story again! Remember, when you see it...search a video on youtube and play the song! And I ESPECIALLY recommend it for this chapter since it's important! For this chapter, the song is "Touch the Sky" from the movie 'Brave' (preformed by Julie Fowlis)
Go go read! Go go review! Go go enjoy! WOOOO!
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Kate climbed the stairs up to the top, feeling another headache coming on. Only now…it wasn't just her head. Every inch of her body, inside and out, was aching. She could feel an extremely powerful force of darkness at work, with something dreadful lying in wait. It took a lot of Kate to stop from screaming at the pain. She was feeling a bit dizzy and overwhelmed at first, as though the entire world's negative energy was colliding straight into her. But Kate regained composure and tried to set aside the pain.
THIS IS ALTRU CORE COMPUTER. ALTRUALTRUALTRU RUUUUUUU…
INCREDIBLE MACHINE'S POWER IS LEVEL 3! LEVEL 3! LEVELLEVELLEVELLEVELGZZZT 3!
THIS IS ALTRU THIS IS ALTRU ALTRUALMIA BZZZZT!
The computer's voice system sounded creepy. But Kate didn't like the sound of the computer hitting level 3 more. This was bad. Really bad. Kate could sense that pokemon all over the region were being controlled and suffering terribly. Even the far reaches of Hia Valley and Haruba Desert were probably reached by the Incredible Machine. Kate stepped to the center of the tower.
"Ah. Welcome, Kate."
Blake Hall, with Wheeler and Heath, was standing on top of the steps that led to a platform, where a giant machine with an orb control system was. Inside it…Kate knew it was the Shadow Crystal. She could feel it's intense energy of twisted darkness. And behind it, lie another threat that was ready to come out.
"Well I'll be….I seem to be out of business cards. How careless of me." Blake kidded. "No matter. You remember me from some time ago? Issac had given you a tour around the front lobby."
"You make a habit to remember all your visitors?" Kate sarcastically asked.
"No but you are a…special case. I've been told about you and heard so much from the papers." Blake replied. "A close friend of mine had advised I 'take care' of you. Seems you handle adversity well."
Close friend…Kate had some suspicions.
"From the commotion I've been hearing, you named this operation after my father, Brighton. Clever." Blake clapped.
"Operation Brighton is going to be a success! I'll defeat you and make sure of it!" Kate proclaimed.
"Quite an honor to see someone such as yourself make it so far, to go through so much to see me." Blake seemed unaffected. But I expected that completely. You differ from the other rangers. I know why. I've been told everything about you, Kate. Defeat me? It'll be me defeating you."
"Us holding you up did something good after all." Heath boasted.
"He's right. You arrived a smidgeon too late, Kate." Blake smirked. "The machine is already at level 3. We extend our full power across Almia, with every single pokemon under my control."
"What do you expect to do with that kind of power?" Kate questioned.
"My bidding of course!" Blake snickered. "I can have the excavate and mine. They could be used as cargo transports. Pokemon can be used for electricity or those with heat can push great volumes of water for water plants. Even in time of crisis, what if we have outsiders invading? We'll use pokemon for war as well!"
"So all of this…..it's just to use pokemon as tools? To work them like slaves? That's sick! You're insane!" Kate yelled.
She was furious. This man was going to put all those pokemon under harsh suffering just for those twisted reasons. Even worse, Blake was tapping into a power that could be capable of so much worse.
"Mr. Hall! Don't waste your words on this impudent child, sir!" Wheeler piped up. "Allow me to handle this!"
Wheeler brought out a miniremo. And he summoned…a…bidoof? Seriously? Just one, single bidoof. After a small sweatdrop, Kate looped once and set the pokemon free. Wheeler seemed stunned that she could do it.
"Eheheh? How odd." Wheeler said. "But no worries. I'll catch my breath and summon ano…"
"Wheeler! That's enough!" Blake pushed him to the side. "Kate has clearly surpassed the training days of school long ago."
"I see. You wish to toy with the child yourself!" Wheeler chuckled. "Ranger, your downfall is assured! No one can outsmart Mr. Hall! He…"
"Wheeler. Just shut up." Blake groaned then turned to Kate. "Kate, you do realize the full power of the machine don't you?"
"I do. But sometime tells me you don't." Kate growled.
"Very soon the date will change. A new dawn will be upon Almia and the world. Altru will celebrate it's new birth." Blake told her. "But why say it when I can show with example?"
He walked over to the orb of the machine.
"Perhaps I should summon a pokemon worthy of this occasion?" Blake mumbled. "One that will usher us into brand new age of darkness…"
The Altru president hit the keys. A whirring sound came from the machine, activating power from the Shadow Crystal. Kate moaned slightly, feeling its energy pulse out.
"Hmmm…not that pokemon. Not quite yet." Blake kept typing. "But here's one in the Haruba desert! I can control it, make it do anything I desire. Whether pokemon are in herds or alone, they're mine to do as I please. Gigaremo? Miniremo? No longer needed."
Once done, Blake faced Kate again.
"The development of this project hadn't even taken off until Kincaid successfully recruited the 'once in a century' genius." Blake explained. "Took a lot of time, money and effort to make it possible. Aha! Here comes the pokemon I summoned!"
A dusknoir descended from the sky, right in front of Blake. Clearly the poor pokemon was in agony. Kate desperately wanted to help it.
"Dusknoir? Meet Kate, the ranger who wants to put an end to our celebration." Blake started typing into the Incredible Machine again. "Give it a demonstration of our power!"
Dusknoir charged forth and Kate leapt, in capture mode already. Kate had heard rumors about this dark type pokemon. But she never guessed it was so crafty. Dusknoir set out little traps that could hurt the styler as well as summon shadow balls from its stomach-mouth. Kate kept ducking side to side to get good angles on capturing. A bit enduring but she knew she could handle it. The dusknoir took a little time to capture but Kate was successful.
"Quite impressive. You've surpassed your reputation." Blake said. "But don't you get it? The Incredible Machine lets me summon unlimited amounts of pokemon. You can't keep capturing like that forever. It's been over before it even started. I've already won. So long as I have my Incredible Machine, it's physically impossible for me to lose."
"Really now?" Kate pulled something from her pockets. "Now what about this!"
A yellow flash erupted from the Yellow Gem Kate showed off.
"What? It…it can't be! How could you have gotten the Yellow Gem?" Blake exclaimed.
"Easy. Ice gave it to me after yet another defeat." Kate responded confidently. "For an evil mastermind, you really don't know how to pick your leaders right."
Blake glared at Heath.
"Uh..we are meaning to reporting earlier but we fail at protect it…" Heath nervously said. "Not thinking you forgive us…but…sir, boss, you has pokemon already. We think things be ok…I am hoping…"
"You blundering oaf!" Blake cursed. "It was crucial to keep the three gems apart from each other! All we needed was to retain one of them. Just one! Then the Shadow Crystal couldn't be harmed! Now you expect the pokemon to cover for your mistakes? Your repeated mistakes? Idiot! I can't believe you had some nerve to come back up here, unlike the other two who have no doubt escaped this place."
"B…but boss…I staying here cause I worry…" Heath trembled, his voice getting quiet.
"Silence!" Blake ordered. "With all of Almia's pokemon under control, they're my servants now."
"NOT A CHANCE!"
Kate looked up to the sky, smiling to see two familiar sights. There was Wendy and Sven, up on the staraptors.
"Hall! We can hear your raving up here!" Sven shouted. "Kate! Get ready to put the finishing touches on Operation Brighton!"
"You got it!" Kate cheered.
"This is it folks!" Sven whoop'ed.
"We're goin in!" Wendy called.
"You think you rangers are so clever?" Blake hissed. "You leave me no choice but to summon that pokemon. The time has come for it to be unleashed! Awaken my pokemon! Arise from the darkness!"
Blake typed something into the machine. Kate could see Wendy and Sven having trouble with their agitated staraptors. Whatever pokemon was being unleashed, Kate didn't have a good feeling about it. Another smack of dark energy from the machine rang in Kate's head. But something seemed off. The energy felt….more. There was a hint of difference this time.
"A pokemon that stores energy of darkness within its body…I'm sure you're acquainted with it already, Kate." Blake cackled, stepping before the ranger. "It is the most beloved of all my pokemon."
From behind Blake, a black hole of darkness formed. Something started to rise from the pool, taking form. Kate's eyes widened. She knew this pokemon all too well. It's normal red eyes were haunted with pain and torture; it was suffering more than any other pokemon that had been under control.
"Darkrai…" She gasped.
For years this pokemon haunted her dreams with warnings. It had killed her brother some years ago. Now it stood before Kate.
"Go on Darkrai. Invite this so-called hero into your world of darkness!" Blake commanded.
He walked back to the machined and typed in the commands. The whirring sounded, with Darkrai struggling through pain. It hovered some feet away from Kate before raising its arms. A crater of darkness came from under Kate's feet.
"Darkrai! Stop!" She yelled, trying to escape.
"Kate!" Chia cried from the sidelines.
This felt like her dreams. Like she was being forcibly dragged down. There was nothing to grab on to climb out or hold on. Once she was in the middle of the circle, Kate was starting to sink into the darkness rapidly. Her arm reached up but her body, enclosed in darkness, lost all feeling. Everything was cold and made her heart freeze in fear. As if she was drowning…..
"KATE!"
Two seconds after the scream, her hand was grabbed just before it slipped into the darkness with her. Kate was pulled out by someone and held tight. They…they felt so warm…she knew this warmth anywhere.
"Keith!" Kate's eyes teared up a bit, hugging her hero. "Thank arceus you're alive!"
"What? You didn't expect me to make a come back?" Keith chuckled. "Of course I'm alive. You had me worried sick! I thought I lost you down there!"
"Sorry!" Kate sweatdropped. "Sven was right about you making an entrance. Guess I owe him….but what happened back there?"
"That attack sent me to Lookout Ridge! Nearly killed me! In fact I even saw…" Keith hesitated. "Nah, we'll save the stories for later. Sorry I got here late but let me make it up by giving a 200% effort!"
Keith landed the staraptor onto the tower. Kate got off.
"You might need this." She handed the Yellow Gem to him.
"Thank you kindly." Keith portentously. "Better go join Sven and Wendy. Oh and Kate?"
"Yeah?" She looked up into him.
His eyes seemed to hold a dozen different emotions and thoughts.
"Stay safe ok?" Keith requested.
He and the staraptor took off into the sky. In no time, Keith joined with Wendy and Sven, who were happy to see him. Kate went back up to Blake, who was scowling over the scene.
"^$% rangers…" He cursed. "You'll regret taking arms against me. Besides, I can sense it is time. Time for the hidden level…"
"Hidden level?" Kate questioned.
"I built one more level onto the Incredible Machine with a little help from my friend. This level goes beyond three. It's the forbidden level that taps into the deepest, darkest energies of the unknown." Blake smirked, standing over his machine. "Level Dark."
Oh no…
"Blake! Stop! You don't know what you're doing!" Kate yelled, terrified.
"Mr. Hall! Not that! You mustn't use that!" Wheeler insisted. "We don't know what will happen!"
"Boss!" Heath was starting to panic. "Even me…I no follow you anymore. No more…."
Blake wasn't listening. His mind was corrupted…too far gone. He tapped into the machine. A loud alarm rang through the air as the lights turned red and electric energies flowed faster into the machine. Kate screamed, feeling the severe pain strike her. This was a hundred times worse than ever before. Darkness, chaos, misery, fear…they pulsed from the Shadow Crystal to Kate. She felt something else…like a door was starting to unlock….
"This is it!" Blake evilily laughed. "Level Dark! Known only to the infinity that is darkness! Let the age of shadows begin!"
"You're out of your freaking mind!" Kate yelled.
Blake didn't seem to hear her.
"Darkrai, swat those flying pests above us. Make them pay." Blake cruelly ordered.
Darkrai was wobbling around, suffering as bad as Kate was. It's eyes were completely different; a swirl of dark red and black. Darkrai wasn't itself anymore, completely different. The pokemon was under a kind of darkness that not even itself could handle. Darkrai rose, creating a pool of darkness under Wheeler.
"Eh? HELP!"
Everyone turned to see Wheeler, fighting to stay afloat in the dark shadows.
"Darkrai! What are you doing?" Blake snapped. "The ranger is over there! Stop this at once!"
Blake's words fell on deaf ears. Darkrai quickly swallowed up Wheeler, making him disappear into the darkness. The orb that controlled the Incredible Machine glowed black, then shattered into millions of tiny glass fragments.
"Mr. Wheeler!" Heath was horrified at what unfolded. "No more! I no want this! I going home to country!"
He sped away, fleeing down the steps of Altru before Blake could stop him. Darkrai was starting to open another dark pool. This time, it was Blake who was getting sucked in.
"Darkrai! What is this? Let me go!" Blake commanded.
"YOU'RE NOT THE ONE GIVING ORDERS ANYMORE."
Kate shook. She heard that voice before. It was the one voice she wished she'd never hear again. The tower rooftop was enclosed in a dark void, cold and full of shadows; it cut off the tower from the world, putting it into a realm of its own. It was just like Kate's nightmares many years ago. Only worse…this time…it was real….
"No! Wait! I thought we were friends!" Blake cried out. "You helped me achieve so much and I gave a lot up for you!"
"FOOLISH HUMAN. I ONLY NEEDED SOMEONE TO SERVE MY PURPOSE. AND YOU ARE NO LONGER NEEDED."
Blake was plunged into the world of darkness. Kate was frozen in place, terrified of what was happening before her eyes.
"GREETINGS KATE. LONG TIME NO SEE."
"It can't be…" She whispered.
"BUT IT IS. MY TIME FOR ETERNAL DARKNESS HAS COME."
The Shadow Crystal glowed brighter, intense purple & black light. From it, something started to emerge. Kate stared in horror as a body surfaced out of the crystal and onto the tower. She gasped, a flood of memories from their last encounter coming back. All those nightmares…those cursed moments…it was too much! Kate was face to face with him once again….the demon of darkness….
"NOW THAT I HAVE COME BACK, I CAN SHROUD THE WORLD IN SHADOWS! BUT FIRST, TO ELIMINATE ANYONE WHO STANDS IN MY WAY."
The demon swiped its claws at Kate, who managed to duck to the side before impact. Kate knew she had to fight. But with what? All she really could do at the moment was leap and avoid the incoming attacks. The demon fired shadow balls and swung his claws at her. There wasn't any sort of weapons to use! All Kate had was a capture styler…and it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Capture on!" Kate tried to capture the demon.
The loops had no affect whatsoever. He wasn't a pokemon so it couldn't work. The demon crushed the disk effortlessly.
"IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT? YOU MAY BE THE HERO OF LIGHT BUT YOU POSSESS NONE OF THE POWER. ITS OVER, KATE."
The demon paused, looking up into the darkness for a moment.
"HMMM…IT SEEMS HE IS HERE TOO….VERY WELL…"
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Keith watched the tower anxiously as he circled on the staraptor. He heard a sinister voice that sounded awfully familiar before the entire tower was encased in darkness. Sven tried to get in but with no luck. Keith worried if Kate was alright in that tower…
All of a sudden, a giant black clawed hand stretched from the darkness and grabbed Keith.
"WAAAH!"
Keith was pulled off the staraptor and into the darkness, barely hearing Wendy and Sven call after him. He was slammed into the ground with full force. Ow…what happened? It went so fast…
"Keith!"
Kate started to run over to him.
"Kate!" Keith went after her too.
A shadowball separated them both.
"AHAHAHAHA! PITIFUL HUMANS. YOUR TIME IS ALMOST UP!"
Keith looked up, shocked and horrified beyond words to see the demon. It was exactly like Blue showed him.
"Keith! That thing is…" Kate was about to say.
"A demon! I know!" Keith interrupted. "Long story! But we need to defeat it!"
"Right!" Kate nodded.
"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME!"
Keith dodged endless attacks of claw strikes and shadow balls. He was trying to come up with a plan only to no avail. If he could only access those light powers….but it seemed as though whatever he inherited from Gavan was small and wouldn't get the job done. What Keith needed was to get Kate's powers to activate. But how? She didn't seem to know she even had them.
"Aaaah!"
Kate's legs were slashed by a shadowball. And looking over at her for a single second cost Keith as well. He was blown back a little ways, feeling the wind was taken right out of him. The demon was powerful…excessively strong. As the battle went on, both rangers got hurt and started to get tired. How in the world was Keith supposed to fight this thing if he had nothing to fight it with?
"HUMAN SCUM…"
Keith looked towards Kate. She was knocked onto her back, with the demon right above her.
"DIE!"
"NOOOO!"
The claw struck down. And Keith intercepted it.
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No….please no…..that didn't happen….no….
Kate's eyes widened in fear. Keith had jumped right between her and the demon, getting stabbed through the heart with its claw. The demon gave a twisted smile as it pulled its claw out of Keith. The redhead slumped to the group, blood pouring out.
"KEITH!" Kate cradled him in her arms.
His eyes squinted shut while his muscles cringed. Keith was trying to fight the pain. But after a few seconds, he was slumped over and went limp. Kate's eyes were brimming with tears. Keith….he….he couldn't be….
"BWAHAHAHAHA!"
Sadness was replaced with fierce determination. Kate searched deep inside herself, begging power to come forth and help her fight this battle. Something seemed to stir inside, growing larger and starting to rise from her. From the darkness, three glows appeared and surrounded Kate. Blue, Red and Yellow…the colors of the Tears of Princes. Then Kate herself started to glow white.
"WHAT IS THIS? THIS POWER?"
(*)
Kate could hear music. It was faint at first but started to get louder. The Gems were the ones creating the music! And not just any music! This song…it was the same one Kate started composing when she first reached Almia! Only days ago had she completed it! And it already sounded more beautiful than she imagined…
Standing up, Kate knew what she had to do. Her light grew stronger, transforming her blood stained uniform with a beautiful white dress and hair flowing freely. Feeling her heart cleansed of fear, she began to sing.
When the cold winds a calling and the sky is clear and bright
Misty mountains sing and beckon me out to Almia's light
I will ride, I will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky
I will fly , chase the wind and touch the sky
The tower started to turn a bright white, light flowing into the darkness. The demon shrieked and tried to fight it off. He tossed out several shadow balls but Kate threw out a force field of light, almost automatically by reflex. She was relaxed and unafraid anymore.
Where dark woods hide secrets and mountains are fierce and bold
Deep waters hold reflections of times lost long ago
I will hear their every story, take hold of my own dream
Be as strong as the seas are stormy, proud as staraptor's scream
I will ride, I will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky
I will fly, chase the wind and touch the sky
Light enveloped the entire dark rooftop of Altru now. The demon was screaming as the light was swallowing him, burning at his skin. Darkrai, who had been held under his control, collapsed unconscious. Keith was starting to glow as well, his clothes transforming into a regal white princely outfit. Kate sang, feeling more free than she had been in years. This demon, as well as her own personal ones, were finally starting to go away. Everyone would be set free from the ancient darkness.
The song was starting to end. Kate watched the demon turn into particles of light and burst into nothing. Soon, the light surrounding everyone flashed. It was just her and Keith. Kate bent down and held him in her arms.
"Kate…"
Keith weakly opened his eyes.
"Oh Keith…" Kate whispered, stroking the side of his face.
"You…*cough*…defeated the demon….I'm so proud…." Keith grinned.
"You're going to be ok." Kate assured, more herself than to him. "Demon's gone, darkness disappeared…we'll go get help and fix your wounds. You'll be ok…"
"Kate…" Keith looked straight into her eyes. "I love you."
Kate lost all her breath as she stared down at him. After a moment of being stunned, her eyes filled with tears that spilled down her face. He loved her. And Kate loved him in return. She bent over and kissed him.
"I love you too." Kate murmured, smiling.
Keith's shocked look quickly melted to the one expression Kate had previously failed to read; love. His body then glowed pure white again. It grew brighter and brighter. Then, it shattered. Keith's light shattered like glass, revealing another layer of pure white light underneath that sparkled beautifully. Eventually, the light died down and Keith was back to himself. His wounds were completely healed. He opened his emerald eyes and sat up, feeling staring at his hands.
"I'm…free…" He gasped.
Tears brimmed the edge of his eyes. He turned to Kate and hugged her tight.
"Kate! You did it!" Keith cried. "You broke my curse!"
"What? But…I…how?" Kate tried to ask, startled at what happened.
"True Love's Song, followed by True Love's Kiss." Keith told her. "That was what I needed to break the spell. And you did it."
Her song to defeat the demon…and then the kiss….had Kate really cured him? More tears started coming. She buried her head into his shoulders. Never again would her love have to suffer as a Pikachu. Kate could be in his arms as long as she wanted, without worrying about him transforming. Keith was free of worry and secrets. He was free…
"I'm your true love?" Kate asked.
"You are." He stroked her head. "I've always loved you. Maybe I'm not the smartest or handsomest man in the world. But I promise to always protect you and make you happy."
As the two started to let go and stand, the light faded away. Their clothes reverted back to ranger uniforms (though Kate's hair stayed down for some reason) and the top of the tower was back where it should be. Darkrai had woken up and went off somewhere. Blake and Wheeler laid unconscious.
"Kate! Keith!"
Sven and Wendy landed the staraptors and raced over. Kate was suffocated by Wendy who hugged her.
"We were so worried!" Wendy definitely showed it, not letting go of Kate. "You two just disappeared down here!"
"What happened down here?" Sven was rubbing Keith's hair.
"A lot of things." Keith sighed. "But it's all over now."
"Where's the gems?" Kate broke away from Wendy's tight grip.
They pointed to where the Shadow Crystal was. There, the three gems were glowing and surrounded the Shadow Crystal…or….what was what it was. It seemed more like the Luminous Crystal now. It was transparent but had a rainbow shine to it. Whatever darkness had been there was gone. Peace was restored to Almia once more.
"You know, we felt something sort of evil when we were flying around." Sven said. "For awhile, it was almost as if all hope was lost. I even started thinking Operation Brighton was a failure."
"But then there was this song. It was so pretty…" Wendy took in a deep breath, closing her eyes. "It restored my faith and reminded me you guys were down there taking care of it. The light on the tower after that was just phenomenal. Whatever you guys did, great work!"
Barlow, Issac and Hastings walked up to the group. Wheeler and Blake woke up and talked to the professor. Hastings gave the restored diary back to Blake, after quoting a few pages that Brighton wrote and revealing Blake's real name was Wyatt. Kate thought it was better to keep that part secret. Keith was probably thinking the same thing. Poor Wyatt…it wasn't all his fault. His father ignored him for most of his young life. Then, Wyatt absorbed the dark power of the Shadow Crystal and listened to the demon's requests, darkening his own heart and sending him into a nightmare.
Wyatt was allowed to walk free, on his own, down to the Altru front to meet his escorts. Hastings questioned both rangers as to what happened while they were in the shroud of darkness. Kate mulled it over, looking as though trying to describe what happened. In the end, she told them she captured darkrai and used the power of the gems to restore light. Kate decided it was best not to mention the demon. Keith glanced at her in agreement. No doubt it was a mission clear!
Everyone started to clear the rooftop to go down to Altru Park. Well…almost everyone.
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"Hey…Go-Rock's playing!" Kate looked over the edge of the building. "And it's the song from before!"
Keith leaned over the building railing to hear it. Sure enough, it was Kate's song. Different singer and the instruments were a little different. But Go-Rock must've claimed it as their own.
"You ok with them taking your song like that?" Keith asked.
"It's fine. They're using it as an honor and to represent the day light shined." Kate replied. "Besides, I feel the song belongs more to Almia itself than me."
"In any case, I loved your version the best." Keith smiled.
Kate blushed before turning back to the show below. Keith was about to watch when something shimmered in his eye. He turned around, finding a white light hovering above the steps, near the center of the tower. Curious and compelled, Keith quietly snuck away from Kate to go over.
"Good work, Keith."
The light formed into a man, like how Blue was formed only this time he was in white. Keith recognized him immediately.
"You're Gavan." Keith said. "So we finally meet."
"It's a pleasure." Gavan bowed his head. "Thank you for defeating my father and restoring peace to Almia."
"Thanks. But…I'm wondering something. Why did you Kate to inherit your powers?" Keith asked.
"Ah. I figured you'd ask." Gavan smiled knowingly. "Kate shows courage and spiritual strength that was needed to face the demon as well as contain the light powers. And in some ways, she reminded me of my own sweetheart, Lyrica."
"And me?" Keith questioned.
"You possessed strength of your own too. But that wasn't the main reason." Gavan answered. "You are Kate's one true love, her destined soulmate. You're the only one who can, have and will protect her as well as make her truly happy. I knew that you'd be able to handle the responsibilities and burdens. Though I do apologize for setting you with the curse…"
"It's alright. If I had to remain a Pikachu for Kate's safety, then I would." Keith told him.
"Now that the curse is broken and darkness has past, it is time for me and my brothers to go." Gavan said.
Three more glows came from the gems surrounding the Luminous Crystal. They formed into three men; one of them was Blue.
"You and Kate did well, Keith. I believed in you since we first met." Blue bowed his head. "Take care of yourselves."
"Thank you." The other two princes bowed their heads as well.
"Keith, I entrust the safety of the land for you and Kate." Gavan said. "Let light forever flow through Almia with peace and prosperity."
The four brothers closed their eyes and willed themselves to turn to light once more. Their orbs of colored light lifted high into the sky. Keith could've sworn he saw a fourth one join them, a purple light staying right next to Gavan. He watched the lights fly into the heavens until they disappeared completely.
"Keith? What're you doing over there?"
Keith turned to see a confused Kate standing some feet away.
"Just looking at the gems." Keith replied, coming over and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Hard to believe we went through so much with those rocks."
"They're gorgeous." Kate sighed, relaxed.
"I've seen something more beautiful." Keith shrugged.
"Really? Where?" Kate asked.
"You." Keith looked deep into her sparkling blue eyes.
He bent over and kissed her. Kate welcomed the kiss, her eyes dancing wildly among the light. There was love in those eyes. Keith knew she loved him. And he loved her. Always had, always will. Under the light of the gems and with music playing in the background, the two rangers shared the warmth and tsunami force of love in their passionate embrace.
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And thus, Almia's been saved and our lovebirds finally open up to their emotions. I've given you all action, drama, music and a lot of romance! Sniffle…I…I dunno what else to say now!
But I wouldn't give up on the story quite yet. There's still one final chapter I'll be uploading very soon before this story's officially over (though I almost don't want it to be!). Keep a sharp eye out for it!
