I climbed out from underneath a sheet of metal and saw the amount of destruction Shadow Ultra Necrozma had caused. Far above me I could see the rocky wall of Ten Carat Hill. The ceiling, the crater, it had all collapsed.

Mahina padded up to me and I gave a grim smile. It was only thanks to her that I survived.

I looked up. The Moon shone down on me as the starry heavens lit the sky. I could hear faint sirens that I assumed was from Hau'oli City.

I grimaced and climbed on Mahina's back. "Get us out of here girl."

I looked at the bloodied hand sticking out of the rubble, strands of red hair visible. "Because it's time for me to do my job as the Hero Born of Darkness.

A person watched as Zeno and his Pokémon left. Then they began digging the bloodied form of Cassandra out of the rubble.

"Don't worry Cassandra," they said. "I'll bring you back. No matter the cost."

Alex, Hau, Robert, Lillie, Hala, Nanu, and acerola raced through Hau'oli City, following the trail of destruction. The Ultra Beasts were hiding, fear of that "thing" keeping them away.

"You know," Alex said as they ran. "I'm glad you're better now Lillie, but this isn't really the place for you to be at. No offense."

Lillie kept running. "Nebby's in danger. I can feel it."

Hau laughed. "You can't change her mind Alex. I already tried."

They all came to a sudden stop as they reached the center of the city. The Shadow Ultra Necrozma towered over them, its red eyes all too familiar.

"Nebby," Lillie said softly, hand outstretched.

Hau grabbed her arm, eyes wide in alarm. "That's not Nebby."

Acerola shivered. "I've never felt an aura quite like this before, not even from Ghost types."

"It's," Robert said. "It's Ultra Necrozma."

"No," Alex said, shaking her head. "It's him. The Shadow."

Dark malicious laughter rang out through the city. "Yes, yes I am human."

Hala stepped forwards. "I don't care what you are! I'll still send you back from where you came from!"

Nanu's eyes were narrowed. "As will I."

Shadow Ultra Necrozma's eyes flashed a dangerous red. "This should be amusing."

Shadows began to seep from him and stretched towards the group. They all grabbed pokeballs and were about to act when-

"STOP!"

Zeno's POV

I got off Mahina and returned her to her Master Ball.

Everyone whirled around, and Alex cried, Zeno!"

I gathered all of my pokeballs and handed them to Hau and Alex. "take care of them, just in case."

"Just in case of what?" Hau asked, but I could tell he already knew.

"Zeno," Alex said, pushing the pokeballs into Robert's arms. "Zeno, don't."

I turned around and gave her a small smile. "We already knew it would come to this."

"Please don't," Alex said softly, tears in her eyes. "You'll… You'll…"

I pulled her into a hug. "I know. I've already accepted that. It'll be okay. I promise."

I pulled away and turned back to face Shadow Ultra Necrozma. I knew if I heard one more plea from her, I would back out and I couldn't afford to do that."

I held out my arms wide as I approached the Shadow. "I'm here Shadow. I'm who you want. Not them."

More laughter. "You can't best me Zeno. You're no hero."

"Maybe not," I admitted. "But I still want to save my friends, my family. And that's all I need to defeat you."

Ribbons of shadows wrapped themselves around my body, forcing me to my knees. I clenched my teeth as I felt my life start to slowly drain from me.

"But is it?" The Shadow asked menacingly.

Then everything became black.

I lay adrift a sea of memories, darkness seeping over me. I remembered the people I killed. Their faceless heads circled me, screaming out in agony. I clutched my head in pain, my screams matching theirs.

I sank into the black water, the screams following me, haunting me. Dark shapes swam around me in the water, their outstretched claws tearing at my body.

"Feel their pain," I could hear he Shadow say. "Feel the pain you caused them."

"What about my pain!?" I tried to scream. "What about my pain!?"

I was falling, falling, falling. I broke my leg upon impact, blood oozing from my wound. I was being beaten into submission by my father, over and over and over! I could remember finally taking that pain and inflicting it on others, killing without mercy.

"No," I said, forcing myself to stand. "I'm past all that. I've become better."

"Have you?"

I turned to find myself back in that alley. And leaning against a brick wall leaking shadows was Willow.

She smiled knowingly. "Have you changed Zeno?"

"I did," I said desperately. "You made me better."

Her smile vanished. "No Zeno, I didn't. I was just a distraction. And once I died, you took your pain and killed again, becoming your old self."

Her cold, amber yes seemed to weaken me and I fell to my knees. "And look how quickly you've forgotten me, replaced me."

"No," I choked out. "I didn't…"

"Didn't what!?" she yelled, shadows spilling from her eyes, nose, and mouth. "Didn't save me!? you let me die! Then you went and did everything you could do to forget me! Your soul will never be at peace!"

"Your only consolation," she said as I now stared at her lifeless form. "You'll be just like me soon enough."

"Just like us!"

Everyone I ever cared about, Alex, Hau, Robert, Lillie, Jessie, James, they were all there, all dead.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed, taking a step back and I could feel myself fall.

"This is your fault."

"You're a monster."

"You killed us."

Their voices teared at my clothes and flesh, blood running down my body.

"You're no hero!"

"You'll never be redeemed!"

"You can't save us!"

The shadows weaved their way through my skin, agony spreading over me.

"YOU DID THIS!"

"YOU CAN'T SAVE ALOLA!"

"YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"

I closed my eyes as I let the shadows tear me apart and all became silent.

Alex's POV

I saw Zeno's head droop as more shadows engulfed him.

"No," I whispered. "No."

Cold. I felt cold. Nothing felt right.

"Huh. I didn't think you'd give up so easily."

I opened my eyes, floating in cold water, surrounded by darkness.

"Get up Zeno."

I sat up and saw Alex staring down at me. "You're not he one to give up so easily, so stand."

I stood, but I didn't feel quite there. "How…"

She smirked. "Don't talk Hero Born of Darkness. just listen."

She stepped closer to me. "You need to get ahold of yourself. Break through the darkness. when you do, you'll only have one chance to destroy the Shadow, so take it."

"I can't," I whispered and could feel myself slipping away. "I'm not strong enough. I can't…"

"Zeno," she said, grasping my hands with hers and I felt myself weighed down as of she were an anchor. "Look at me."

I looked into her emerald green eyes. "I believe in you. I will always believe in you."

As she leaned to kiss me, she became smoke and drifted away into the darkness.

I felt a newfound strength within me and I stared up into the darkness. "SHADOW!"

The shadows began to crack all around me as I fell through my mind. I smashed through barriers, through the darkest moments in my life.

"YOU WON'T BEAT ME!" I shouted as the shadows began to burn with golden light. "I WON'T LET YOU DESTROY ALOLA!"

The light became blinding and I opened my eyes, finding myself back on my knees in Hau'oli City. My strength began to return as the shadows connecting me to the Shadow began to glow with golden light.

I slowly stood, unclenching g my fist. More golden energy flowed from me, and it began to spread across Shadow Ultra Necrozma.

"NO!" he yelled in pain. "WHAT IS THIS!?"

"MY DARKNESS!" I shouted. "MY DARKNESS IS MY STRENGTH!"

I took a step forward. "I WILL NEVER SUCCUMB TO YOUR DARKNESS! I WILL DESTROY YOU!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"I HAVE MY FRIENDS TO PROTECT!" I yelled. "AND THAT GIVES ME THE STRENGTH TO DEFEAT YOU! THEY HAVE HELPED ME SEE OVERCOME THE DARKNESS OF MY PAST AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME THE HERO BORN OF DARKNESS!"

With a final yell, I thrust my hands forwards, unleashing all the energy inside me and Shadow Ultra Necrozma fell to the ground and all the shadows left him, leaving behind Lunala and Necrozma.

I fell to one knee, exhausted. I turned my head to give my friends a small smile. Then I felt something. I whipped my head around just in time to see the Shadow lunge at me.

I rose and ducked low, catching him in the middle. I punched his side, but a kick sent me sprawling.

I rolled away to dodge his fist which cracked the concrete. I jumped to my feet and blocked his shadowy fist with an open hand. I felt something break, but I ignored the pain as I slammed my whole body against him.

We rolled along the ground until he ended up on top, his hands pressing hard against my head. I could see that he was fading, growing weaker.

I grasped his head with my own hands as I felt myself weaken. "You're done for Shadow. You've lost."

"Maybe so," he said viciously, his grip tightening. "But if I'm to die, then I'll take you with me."

Time seemed to slow as the Shadow's eyes burned bright red and in them I saw me. I remembered the Prophecy as his eyes faded to black.

"A Hero Born of Darkness shall rise and confront Alola's darkest night. And through parting of life shall the darkness cease."

His body melted into shapeless shadows as they spread along my body. My back arched inwards and I let out a gasp of pain. Then the shadows faded into nothing and I fell back upon the round, limp.

"ZENO!"

I heard the rushing of feet before I was surrounded by everyone, Alex on her knees. She was crying.

"Zeno," she sobbed, grasping my hand. "Don't die. Please don't die."

"Shhh," I said weakly. "It'll be alright."

I looked at Hau, who was trying to hold back tears, but failing. "Hau, thank you for being my first friend in Alola. You brought more joy into my life than I thought possible."

He laughed weakly. "I tried."

I reached out my hand and touched Lillie's. "Thank you for being kind and loving. You were like a sister to me. stay pure and keep Hau in line."

She smiled as tears fell on my hand. "I will."

I held out my right fist to Robert and he bumped it softly with his own. "Stay strong and loyal Robert. My only regret is I never had the chance to battle you again."

"Whenever I fight, I'll fight with our spirit by my side," Robert promised

I smiled. "Good."

I turned my gaze back to Alex. "Thank you, Alex. Thank you for being there, for understanding me. I know I said I needed to wait, but I guess I ran out of time."

"Zeno," she said, gripping my hand tighter. "I love you."

I squeezed her hand with all the strength I could muster. "I love you too, Alex."

I turned my gaze skywards, to the Moon shining high above me.

"Goodbye," I whispered, and all my strength left me and the last thing I felt was my hand in Alex's going limp. Then everything faded away into an endless, peaceful nothing.

No One's POV

Alex let out a wail of grief as she clung to Zeno's lifeless body. Hau held Lillie close, letting their tears fall freely as Robert punched a street lamp until blood ran down his knuckles.

Ultra Beasts all around Alola began emerging, their reign of destruction about to begin.

The Prowler shook herself as she walked out of the Ruins of Life, breathing in fresh air for the first time in so long.

She looked to the Moon. "So, the Hero Born of Darkness is truly dead."

She bared her teeth, her black fur shimmering. "Now Alola will be ours."

I… I'm… I'm sorry!

Toodles…