54. Legend

Chapter 54. Legend.


Summary. Ash defeated Silver, but all is not well it seems.


The corruption of the creator.

The death of a champion.

The towering inferno.

The sacrifice of one.

The darkness will arrive.

"What the hell does that mean?" Flint asked.

"I don't know." Phoebe remarked. "But there is someone who might."

"Brandon?"

"Brandon." Phoebe confirmed.

Noland was trying to find the signal, but he had lost it.

"What was the point of us coming out here, anyway?" Flint asked.

"We found that!" Phoebe reminded him. "It has to have some significance."

"I can't see it." Flint insisted.

"That's because you have bone where your brain is." Phoebe said, scathingly.

"Ouch, my pride." Flint replied.

"You'll get more of it." Phoebe remarked. "If you don't, it'll be replaced with bravado and obnoxiousness."

"That's not even a word." Volkner and Noland shouted.


"Put your hands together for Ash Ketchum!"

Ash took the acclaim of the crowd, feeling pretty good.

Silver walked over and clapped him on the shoulder.

"You did good kid." He roared. "I can't believe I'm saying this after I lost, but I'm proud of you."

Ash didn't know what to say. "Err..thanks."

"Give your old man a hug." Silver said, holding his arms out.

Regardless of everyone watching, Ash reciprocated.

"And a touching moment between the two competitors."

Ash and Silver quickly separated.

"I'm glad you are my son." Silver remarked. "Your mother did a great job raising you, even though I think you get your Pokemon training skills from me."

"I don't know about that." Ash grinned. "Have you ever seen my mom's Mr. Mime in action?"

Silver laughed. "Nah, but I imagine it's quite a sight. Your mother was a fiery Pokemon trainer in her youth. All passion and impulse. It was truly a sight to behold. I don't suppose she has any of her Pokemon left now."

"You'll have to tell me about it sometime." Ash said. "Dad."

Despite his loss, Silver grinned.


Elias had been fairly miserable lately. His burns had been hurting him, and he had been lonely.

Feeling slightly guilty for doing other things, Faith had gone out to get him something to make him feel better. Admittedly, those other things consisted of trying to stop a supremely evil human from making the world a worse place, but she was still feeling guilty.

She had been walking for a few minutes down a dirt path when she tripped over something.

"What was that!" Faith asked, as a small red-brown Pokemon looked at her. It had a strange beak and stood on four legs. "Oh, it's a Trapinch."

"Trapinch?" It said.

"Hmm." She mused. "That would keep him company while I have to save the world, and he's in hospital. Okay, Mightyena, go!"

Faith sent out Mightyena, who barked at the Trapinch.

"Use Bite!"

Mightyena charged at Trapinch and bit down on it. Trapinch didn't look bothered, as it jumped up and shook Mightyena off.

"Woah." Faith remarked, as it kicked up a Sandstorm. "Mightyena, return."

She recalled Mightyena. "How, about Delcatty."

Faith sent out Delcatty, who looked slightly upset at appearing in a sandstorm.

"Catt!" She protested.

"Don't worry." Faith told her Pokemon. "Use Water Pulse!"

Delcatty fired the sphere of sonic waves at Trapinch, who became confused by the attack.

"Awesome, Delcatty." She congratulated. "Now, use Assist!"

Delcatty started to glow with light, before digging underground.

"That must be Dig." She remarked, as Delcatty crashed into Trapinch, knocking it on its back.

"And now for the Pokeball!"

Faith threw the Pokeball at the Ant Pit Pokemon, who was sucked inside. The ball shook a few times, before stopping still. There was a small ping, before she picked it up.

"Gotcha!" She shouted, in triumph.

Delcatty cheered.

"Thanks Delcatty." Faith said, as she recalled her. "Now, let's head back to the hospital."


"Hey, it's that guy off TV!" Flint joked, as they arrived back at the G-men headquarters. The Pyramid King was relaxing in a chair, his feet on a small table.

"What do you want?" Brandon said, angrily. He really didn't like Flint.

"Easy, Brandon." Volkner replied. "Excuse Flint, little things please little minds."

"Hey!"

"What do you want?"

"Well, we were wondering if you could give us a hand with a legend."

The Pyramid King looked at him with interest. "A legend?"

Phoebe handed him a photo of the words written on the ruins. Brandon quickly read it, before a dark look passed across his craggy features.

"Where did you find this?" He thundered.

"On the other side of the Island." Volkner replied. "There are some ruins."

"Brandon, what is it?" Phoebe asked, sensing his anguish.

Brandon sighed, before turning to his comrades.

"There is something I need to tell you. A legend of epic proportions."

Brandon picked up a bottle of water, and took a quick swig.

"This has been passed down throughout the ages, known only to a select few. I'm only going to tell it once, though."

"Then, let's gather everyone." Volkner said, picking up a phone and dialling a number.


"Wow, thanks." Elias said, happily as Faith gave him his Trapinch.

"It's okay." Faith replied. "It's kind of a peace offering. I haven't been around a lot lately, and you're stuck in here on your own. Seems right for company, and when you get out, you'll have a new battling partner."

Trapinch hopped on the bed and looked confused.

"Seems friendly." Elias said, as he stroked the Pokemon.

"Don't let the nurses see it." Faith advised. "They might frown on it. And by the word might, I mean will." She put the Pokeball on his bedside table.

"Best girlfriend ever." Elias declared, as Faith's phone rang. She answered it.

"Hello."


Dragonite touched down through the hole in the side of the building, which had been created a few days earlier after a Dragonair had crashed through it in battle.

"Must get someone to cover that up." Volkner remarked, referring to the hole, as Olly jumped off.

"Saves me using the stairs." Olly replied, as Dragonite roared in agreement.

Brandon looked annoyed. "Are you going to let me tell this tale, or not?"

"Everyone seems to be here." Phoebe remarked.

"Then let me begin." Brandon said.

"This better not begin with once upon a time." Flint joked.

"Shut up!" Brandon shouted. "Or I will get my Regirock to bash your head into an egg!"

That shut Flint up.

"Anyway, many years ago, thousands in fact, it was rumoured that the creator of all Pokemon, Arceus was corrupted by an unknown entity. Nobody quite knows who, or what, or how it happened, but it did. Anyway, the corrupter proceeded to silently take over the world, corrupting the creator was the first step. The second was the death of a revered champion that had been caused by the corrupter. It was believed to be a skilled Pokemon trainer back then, who was loved by many."

"Like Lance?" Faith asked.

"Lance isn't dead." Phoebe reminded her.

Brandon coughed, to reprimand them, before continuing.

"The next part was the burning of an important building which was seen by thousands. It was a castle at the coronation of a new King. The legend doesn't go into detail where this was, but the next part about the hero's sacrifice came in the same instance when a brave soul managed to open the gates, at the cost of his life. The people trapped inside managed to escape due to his efforts. That was the sacrifice."
Brandon looked around, expecting an interruption. When none came, he continued.

"After this sacrifice, the corrupter proceeded to exercise an iron fist over the land, punishing those who tried to oppose her. Chaos reigned as people were attacked by those who used to be their friends and neighbours."

"Not wanting to sound cliched though?" Lucy remarked.

"This is the last part of the legend." Brandon said, staring daggers at his fellow Frontier Brain.

"When all hope seemed lost, six humans appeared and stopped the corrupter. The creator was freed from the grip of the tyrant, and peace was eventually restored to the land."

"Nice to hear the happy ending." Flint said sarcastically.

"So, what does this mean?" Volkner asked.

"If Arceus became corrupted, then it would show that history is repeating itself." Brandon concluded. "Claudia could be trying to recreate the legend, or it could be happening organically."

"I met Arceus recently." Olly remarked. "As much as Arceus can be, he seemed normal. If you can call something that created all Pokemon normal."

"Woah!" Brandon said. "Back that up. You met Arceus?"

"Yeah, but it's a long story."
It looked like Brandon was about to insist on hearing the story, when everyone present heard the beating of wings, and a loud squawk.

Noland looked confused. "What the hell?"

"What is it?" Phoebe asked.

Noland ran to the hole in the wall, and stuck his head out.

"What are you doing here?" He shouted.


"Weavile, Night Slash!"

"Smoochum, Focus Punch!"

Paul's Weavile and Anabel's Smoochum fought tenaciously, each hoping to get a win. Weavile ran a pair of sharp claws across Smoochum's face. Smoochum responded by hitting her larger opponent with a powerful punch.

Both Pokemon went down in a heap.

"You are getting better." Anabel remarked. "You are turning losses into draws and that is the first step to victory."

"You seem to have some kind of block over me." Paul admitted.

"Let's find out if that is true." Anabel replied, calmly. "Go, Claydol."

Anabel sent out Claydol.

"Ursaring! standby for battle!" Paul shouted, sending out his huge brown bear.

Ursaring looked as angry as always, despite the recent metamorphosis that its trainer had gone through.

"Ursaring, Hyper Beam!"

"Claydol, Psychic!"


"Pika!"

"This was a great idea." May remarked, as her Blastoise lay in the ocean. Her other Pokemon preferred to avoid the water.

"I do have them from time to time." Ash laughed, as he lay on his stomach getting some sun on his back. "You should know that by now."

The six Pokemon he had used against Silver were all taking some vital rest. Gliscor, Tauros, Nightmare, Lucario, Glalie and Pikachu.

"That was really quite a battle." May said, running her fingers up Ash's back. "If a little nerve wracking."

"You should have been in the trainer area." Ash groaned.

"When Salamence took that last Thunderbolt, I thought Pikachu was done for."

"I knew Pikachu would pull through." Ash replied, as he rolled onto his side. "Pikachu nearly always comes through for me when I need it to."

"Not always." May pointed out. "Remember the match with Tyson at Ever Grande."

"Yeah, but I like to compare it with several other battles. Drake in Pummelo stadium, Pryce in Mahogany Town, Juan in Sootopolis City. Then there were the battles in the Battle Frontier against Lucy and Brandon."

"Fair enough." May conceded. "That is one special Pikachu. But then again, Pikachu has a very special trainer."

Ash went slightly red at the compliment. "That special trainer has a very special girl in his life."

"That's sweet." May exclaimed. "If slightly unoriginal. But I appreciate it all the same."

Ash could have gazed into her eyes all day. They were one of her best assets. One of the very things that made her special, and in turn, realise what a lucky guy he was.


Several of the G-men stood aghast as the legendary bird of ice appeared in front of them.

"Holy crap, that's Articuno!" Faith shouted.

"What's wrong?" Noland asked.

Articuno looked at him, with a strange look in its eyes.

"Noland." Brandon said, warily. "There looks to be something wrong with Articuno."

"Articuno, I can help you." Noland said, holding out his hand.

Articuno looked at him, before lunging.

"Oh shit!" Noland shouted, as he jumped backwards avoiding the thrust. "What is wrong with you?"

Articuno either didn't hear him, or didn't care as it fired a beam of ice at its friend.

"Dragonite, Protect!"

Olly gave the order, and Dragonite flew in front of the attack, protecting Noland.

Rather than placating Articuno, this enraged the Pokemon, and it started thrashing around, destroying the parts of the building.

"We have to take this away from the building!" Volkner shouted. "Get Articuno away from here. I need volunteers to help me!"

"I'm with you!" Brandon shouted.

"And I've started already." Olly said. "Dragonite, Iron Tail."

Dragonite charged at Articuno, tail glowing with white light. He crashed it into the Freeze Pokemon, forcing it back.

"Electivire, go!" Volkner shouted.

"Registeel, I need your assistance!" Brandon yelled. "Everyone out of here!"

Brandon and Volkner sent out their Pokemon.

"Electivire, use Thunder!"

"Registeel, use Flash Cannon!"

"Dragonite, use Overheat!"

The three powerful attacks hit Articuno and knocked it into the trees. As the three trainers and their Pokemon watched, they saw it get up and head towards the resort.

"Articuno is going to hurt someone!" Noland shouted. "Something's wrong."

"Let's debate it later." Volkner said, calmly. "If Articuno gets to the resort, who knows what could happen."

"We need to stop it." Brandon remarked.

"I'm on it." Olly shouted, as he jumped on Dragonite.

"Are you crazy?" Noland demanded. "Articuno has a phenominal advantage against Dragonite."

Dragonite started to fly.

"Hurry up then!" Olly yelled.

As Dragonite followed Articuno, Volkner and Brandon recalled their Pokemon and ran down the stairs.

"Phoebe's in charge!" Volkner yelled.

"Oh crap!" Flint exclaimed.


Dragonite easily caught up with Articuno, and flew in front of the Freeze Pokemon, blocking its path.

"Articuno, stop!" Olly shouted.

Articuno seemed to disregard him, as it flew at Dragonite. It opened its beak in preparation to launch an ice attack.

"Dragon Dance."

Dragonite spun in middair in a vain attempt at some kind of dance.

"Now dodge."

Dragonite easily evaded the Ice Beam, spinning away from and underneath its opponent.

Articuno was starting to look angry at this point, and turned to face Dragonite.

"Use Dragon Dance again!"

Dragonite managed a slightly better dance this time, increasing its speed and attack power.

Articuno fired another Ice Beam. Dragonite evaded it, but was caught on the tail by the attack.

Dragonite howled in pain, to the clear satisfaction of Articuno.

Olly was worried. He didn't want to get into a huge battle with Articuno as one hit from the legendary bird would probably be enough to defeat Dragonite.

Or at the very least, disable it. I can't take that chance.

"Dragonite, keep avoiding any attacks it throws at you."

Dragonite looked like he wanted to attack his opponent, but continued to obey. He avoided several Ice Beam attacks.

"Dragonite, keep evading, until it does something stupid."

There is only so long Dragonite can evade. Articuno is going to get lucky eventually. Might as well attack soon.

"Dragon Dance, one more time."

Dragonite powered up.

"Now stop." Olly ordered, seeing Articuno use Mind Reader.

Dragonite stopped in midair.

"Remember the battle with Tyson?"

Dragonite nodded.

Articuno fired an Ice Beam attack, that was guaranteed to hit.

"Use Iron Tail to intercept."

Dragonite's tail started to glow with a white light, as he spun and took the attack in that area.

He winced in pain, as his tail was frozen, but since it had become slightly metallic it was protected from high amounts of damage.

"Sorry for this, but use Slam and aim for the head!"

Dragonite flew at Articuno and brought his tail down on the Freeze Pokemon's head.

Articuno was knocked straight out of the sky and was flung to the ground. All the power increases from Dragon Dance, as well as the effects from Iron Tail had proved too much to keep it in the air.

"We did it!" Olly cheered, as Dragonite sneezed.


Brandon and Volkner arrived in time to see Articuno crash to the ground.

"Holy crap!" Volkner exclaimed.

Dragonite landed next to them, and admired his handiwork.

"Excellent work." Brandon remarked. "If Articuno had got into the air around the resort, who knows what could have happened."

Dragonite sneezed again. Olly recalled him. "Thanks for your effort."

"What causes a normally placid Pokemon to do this?" Volkner asked, kneeling next to Articuno.

"Who knows?" Brandon replied, as Articuno opened its eyes. He took a torch out and shone it in the eyes of the Freeze Pokemon. "There's something there though."

Brandon, Olly and Volkner all saw it. The hint of red and black in its iris.

"What is that?"

"That might be the cause of the problem." Brandon remarked. "Whatever it is, it is corrupting Articuno's mind."

"So, if its mind is being corrupted, it came here to attack Noland?" Olly said. "How do we get rid of it?"

"I have no idea." Brandon said. "We'd need to find the source of the corruption."
"I'm on about Articuno." Olly replied. "We can't leave it here, otherwise it could attack again."

"How do you restrain a legendary Pokemon?" Volkner asked. "How did you capture the Regi?"

"Reasoning with them." Brandon replied, sarcastically. "Do you think capturing Articuno would be the best way?"

"Until we can source the problem, yes." Volkner said.

Articuno managed to get up, and glared at them.

"Registeel!" Brandon shouted. "I need your assistance!"

Brandon sent Registeel out.

"This might be worth watching." Volkner remarked.

"Registeel, use Lock On!" Brandon shouted.

Registeel looked at Articuno, and a small cross hair appeared in the middle of Articuno's body.

Articuno fired a blast of ice at Registeel, who easily took the attack.

"Registeel has a clear advantage." Olly remarked. "Articuno can't hurt it with its attacks."

"Use Zap Cannon!" Brandon roared.

Registeel held out its brown, clawed arms and created a ball of electricity, which was thrown at Articuno. Articuno tried to avoid the notoriously inaccurate attack, but it followed the Freeze Pokemon around, and eventually, crashing into it. Articuno moaned in pain, before turnin back to its opponent.

"Flash Cannon!"

Registeel fired a beam of silver energy from it's 'mouth' which landed another direct hit on Articuno.

The clearly weakened bird fired a sphere of water at Registeel, who took the attack without suffering much damage.

"That was a Water Pulse." Volkner remarked.

After seeing this, Articuno tried to escape.

"Lock On!" Brandon shouted.

Another cross hair appeared on the rapidly retreating Articuno.

"It isn't going to escape." Brandon remarked. "Hyper Beam!"

Another beam of energy burst from Registeel's 'mouth' and followed Articuno.

The Freeze Pokemon was eventually hit, and collapsed to the ground.

Brandon threw a Pokeball at the fallen creature who had no energy left to resist.

The ball hit Articuno and sucked it inside. It shook twice, before staying still.

"Congratulations." Olly said, dryly.

"At least it won't go mental now." Volkner remarked. "I wouldn't let it out though."

"I'm not intending to." Brandon said, angrily. "Not until the cause of the problem is revealed."


Author's Notes. A slightly random chapter, but I think that the two main points of it were sent across rather well.

The legend, as Lucy remarked is cliched, but hey, most legends are. As are myths, fables and musicals. Sorry to anyone who likes musicals.

It appears that Brandon caught Articuno. Don't send reviews telling me that it is impossible to capture Articuno with a Pokeball.

More on what caused Articuno to flip out in a later chapter, but it was key to the story as what happened in the last part of this chapter will have a bearing on the Olly versus Paul battle.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. You are all great.

If there is anything you don't understand, then put it on a review and send it, and I will get back to you to try and explain it.

Also, Registeel overcame Articuno remarkably quickly in battle, but don't forget it had taken super effective attacks in its first appearance and also a super powered Slam.

Just as a side note, the second time you battle Brandon in Pokemon Emerald, he uses an Articuno then. That seems slightly contrived. Ehhh, what are you going to do?

Also the part where Faith gives Elias a Trapinch was slightly suggested by Zabuza, so mild credit there.

Don't forget to review!