Here's chapter fifty – two. Thank you Zero1313, Kauris Azurai, Antex-The Legendary Zoroark, StarShine65, BlackRitual, and Spacemarine64 for reviewing last chapter!

Chapter Fifty – Two: Entrance

Taylor swallowed hard. "We're not really flying there, are we?" Several flying pokemon—mostly charizard and talonflame, with a few noivern and crobat interspersed—had packed themselves into Lysandre Café. A few grunts milled about; two hurried to calm a charizard that reared his neck, flames flickering from the corners of his mouth.

Lysandre said, "You and the team will be, yes. It is the fastest way to get there." He raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem?"

"No." He bit back the nausea he felt when he thought about flying again.

Lysandre said, "Malva will be your guide. She has been there before."

"Malva? As in, Malva of the Elite Four?"

"Yes. You were just talking to her, were you not?"

Taylor realized after a moment he was referring to his comment about being sent by the Elite Four. For a moment he feared Lysandre would realize it had only been Wikstrom, not any of the others, that he'd had contact with, but the red-haired man seemed unconcerned.

The grunts looked uncomfortable and displeased. "Mr. Lysandre," one said, "why aren't you going? You know the place, too."

Lysandre heaved a heavy sigh and clasped his hands behind his back. "I have other matters to attend to." He turned. "Malva should arrive soon. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior."

One grunt muttered, "Right. 'Other matters.' Isn't he always going off on other matters? He hasn't even focused on our true objective in forever."

"Shh!" another grunt hissed.

"'True objective'?" Taylor asked, almost simultaneously.

The offending grunt suddenly looked guilty.

His companion hit him. "It's nothing to worry about."

Taylor didn't agree. Looks like Wikstrom was right. There is something rather odd going on with Team Flare.

Someone clapped. "Alright!" a female voice called. "Stop slacking and get ready!" Malva entered the room, eyes narrowed, flashing behind her glasses.

Taylor swallowed. She certainly seems more agitated than she does on TV. He was glad Eve was in her pokeball.

Malva surveyed them.

The grunts all seemed uneasy; some went to the pokemon, stroking them or hiding behind them.

Malva said, "Everyone find a pokemon. It looks like Lysandre somehow managed to find one for each of you, so I expect all of you to have your own. I don't want this to be slowed down because a pokemon's carrying too much weight."

The grunts who weren't already near a pokemon went to one.

Taylor looked around for a free pokemon, acutely aware of Malva's intense gaze. He ended up near a charizard.

The pokemon surveyed him, snarling quietly.

Taylor lifted his hands in defense. "Easy. I'm not going to hurt you. I just need a ride."

The charizard still seemed uncertain, but the snarling stopped.

"Now," Malva said, "so you're aware, I should warn you that there are talonflame that guard Xerneas's glade. Last time we were there, they weren't very happy with us. I imagine they won't be thrilled to see us again. So if it comes to it, follow my lead, and prepare for a fight."

"F-fight?" Taylor stuttered.

Malva said, "What's the matter? You aren't scared, are you?"

Taylor shook his head. "N-no." It's just a long way to fall if we get into a fight up there.

Malva rolled her eyes. "Everyone outside. We're leaving now." She exited the building.

The grunts lead their mounts outside, some tugging harnesses in an attempt to drag the more stubborn pokemon.

Taylor eyed his temporary companion nervously.

The charizard stared back. Then the corners of his mouth lifted into what Taylor almost thought was a smirk. He moved to the exit.

Taylor jumped, then hurried behind.

Malva was already on her talonflame outside. The grunts mounted, some fumbling with crude saddles and reigns, others laughing while riding pokemon devoid of gear. Taylor scrambled onto the charizard's back, coiling his hands into arm straps on a saddle and bending close to the pokemon.

When the sounds of scrambling died Malva called, "Everybody into the air!"

Taylor hardly had time to think before his charizard shot upwards, wing muscles bunching. Wind whipped Taylor's hair and tugged his clothes; he nearly lost his glasses, and had to free a shaky hand and remove them, trying to hold them tightly while desperately clinging to the straps.

They climbed a while, Taylor struggling to breathe and trying not to panic, then leveled off. Taylor remained bent low, but peered over the charizard's shoulder. Blurry distant shapes indicated the various member of the team moving ahead. He felt dizzy, and closed his eyes.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed when Malva called, "We're getting close! Be ready."

Taylor's whole body ached. He risked looking again. His blurred team members still flew ahead; now, however, another shape hovered on the horizon. The shape spun. A raucous call echoed through the air. Several other shapes appeared beside the first.

Malva shouted, "Here they come!"

Taylor risked sitting back and putting his glasses on.

A flock of talonflame streaked towards them, wings beating furiously, screeches rending the air.

Malva's talonflame dipped, spinning.

The Team Flare members shouted in alarm, their pokemon hurrying to move out of the way.

Taylor's charizard dropped abruptly, causing Taylor to jerk back in the saddle, his arm hurting from holding on, one hand frantically fumbling for his glasses. The charizard continued his descent, the trees approaching rapidly, blurred and tear-stained to Taylor's eyes.

Talonflame screeched above them. Flames streaked near them, petering out as they neared the forest.

The charizard leveled off, but kept its speed, gliding over the tree tops.

Taylor finally found himself able to bend close to the pokemon, wrapping his free hand and glasses around the charizard's neck.

The pokemon grunted, but didn't make any other protest.

The pokemon clashed overhead. Though Taylor couldn't distinguish who was who amidst the red and orange and gray, he heard the cries and shouts well enough, saw the bright bursts of light that could only be fire.

The charizard rolled, opening his mouth and releasing a flamethrower skyward. The pokemon parted around it, momentarily startled. They overcame it quickly; some dove towards him.

Charizard spun several times, rising, plowing through the mass.

Wings beat Taylor's face and body. The wind drew tears from his eyes. He closed them, trying to still his breathing and his hammering heart.

Suddenly the beatings stopped. His charizard had risen above the mass, flying towards the sun. He hovered, wings sweeping back and up.

A pokemon broke from the ranks, soaring towards them.

Taylor asked, "Wh-what are you—"

The charizard dove. The world passed rapidly, and they'd reached the attacking pokemon before Taylor had realized it, crashing into it but hardly slowing their fall. They broke into the ranks of pokemon again, startling them, forcing them to move aside while they shot past. The charizard sent his opponent flying into the trees, snapping his wings open at the last moment to slow his descent. Branches whipped Taylor, uncomfortable, but his mount was able to slow down enough to land without injury.

Taylor slid off the saddle and fell to his knees. He braced his hands against the ground a moment, inhaling deeply, sweat dripping down his face onto his hands. "I never. Want to fly. Again."

The charizard made a disgruntled sound.

Taylor leaned back, putting on his glasses. The trees blocked out the battle overhead, but Taylor could still make out shadows and sounds. He swallowed and stood, bracing his shaky legs. "So we got out of the battle. But where are we?"

The charizard ruffled his wings, then took off again, wind stirring dust and leaves.

"Hey!" Taylor protested.

The charizard ignored him, rising through the canopy and returning to the battle.

Taylor sighed. "Of course. I'm just a nuisance when it comes to pokemon battles." He wondered how the rest of the team was faring, and if it wouldn't have been better to try something else.

He shook his head. The forest stretched out ahead of him. The trees blocked out much light, only letting in random golden shafts. The battle seemed muted, too far away to be of any significance. Despite the deep shadows, the forest seemed somehow warm, welcoming.

He moved slowly down the path. The bushes stirred occasionally, eyes peering from them. A shadow passed overhead, then was replaced by harsh red-orange light. Taylor jumped, then continued.

The trees broke abruptly, revealing a glade with a white-washed, X-shaped tree in the center. Taylor hesitated. That's Xerneas's tree, isn't it? The battle forgotten, Taylor raced to the tree, giddy. He ran his hands over the tree. "Amazing," he whispered. "Is this part of your legend, then? I have to write it down. Or remember it, since I have no writing implements on me. Why an X?" He frowned and cupped his chin. "I believe the pictures may have depicted you with branching antlers, but who knows how accurate they are." He stepped back. "The tree has to do with your life-giving properties, certainly."

A talonflame wheeled overhead, screeching.

Taylor jumped, suddenly remembering the situation they were in.

Malva shouted, "Get out of there, you idiot!"

"But I—" He suddenly realized pokemon were watching him from the trees. They emerged, slowly, compared to the fury of the battle in the sky. Taylor found himself taking several steps backwards, until he brushed the tree's bark.

The talonflame dove.

-Doublade wondered what was going through Eris's mind as she hurried through the forest pathways. She seemed focused, single-minded; she hadn't stopped moving since they'd set out, and now the sun had long since sunk below the horizon. Doublade kept a wary eye on the wild pokemon, but none had moved to investigate the strange human and pokemon pair.

Doublade tapped her. "Rest."

Eris continued, seemingly oblivious.

Doublade knocked his sheath against her back. "Rest."

Eris jerked. "Wh-what?"

"Running too long."

Eris blinked, then rubbed her eyes. "Oh. Wow. It got dark. When did that happen?"

Doublade sighed.

Eris laughed awkwardly, then sat. "Ow. My legs are really sore. I guess I was just so focused on finding Yveltal, I didn't realize how much time had passed." She paused. "Hey, Doublade. Now that I'm, ah, enforcing rest, I guess, I—never mind. I forgot. You don't know about how you can talk to me, either."

No, Doublade thought, but I have some ideas. Specifically, he considered that it might be because of how Eris saw his past. That, however, brought up an entirely different set of questions.

Eris sighed. "I wonder if Yveltal will stay in the same place. Maybe this was stupid. Maybe we should have just waited at the cave for him to come back." She paused. "But what if he didn't? Oh, I don't know. I guess the decision's made, and I'm not going to worry about it. Right?"

Doublade murmured agreement. "Sleep."

"Ah! Right, I guess I should do that. But what about—"

"Sleep."

A pause. Then she reluctantly said, "Alright."

Doublade released Eris when her breathing deepened. I suppose I should try to find berries or something similar. She'll need to eat when she wakes up. And probably water somewhere. He unsheathed one blade, sending it to collect food; the other remained near Eris as a guard. I just hope, he thought, that we find Yveltal soon.


That's the end of chapter fifty – two! Review responses:

Zero1313: Haha, well, they have to try something, even if that something is rather ridiculous.

Kauris Azurai: Yeah. It's a rather convenient little ability. And haha, you have no idea.

Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Yep! This should probably help in some situations.

StarShine65: Caught you? That sounds…rather concerning. I hope everything's going okay, then? I'm glad you liked the chapter, though!

BlackRitual: Yes, the search is on! And noted. I think I was going for something more triumphant there, because Eris wasn't actually sure it would work, but I suppose I didn't put enough there for it to come off like that. Thanks for pointing it out!

Spacemarine64: Thank you! I'm glad you like the story!

Anything you'd like to say? Feel free to leave a review!