A/N: Hey y'all! I am SOOOO Srry about the delay! I have had such a freakin hard time tryin to get Internet connections, and then some one totally jacked my flash drives! So then I had no way of getting my chapters to a comp that had Web, but I'm back, so no fear! And the sequel has been started, so, in only a few chapters, you'll be reading the next book! YAY! R&R

A/N2: oh, by the way: THE MUSES ARE STAYING! YAY! (Confetti)

Wizard & Rage: (Happy dance) YAY!

Harry: It's not like we had anywhere else to go, anyways…

Giovanni: Too true, son, too true…

"Talking"

Thoughts "Pokémon Talking" "PokeDex Info" "PokeGaze Info"

Chapter Fifty-Three

Grass, feathers, hair, and fur ruffled in the wind as Pokémon and people alike crowded around the edges of the decided battlefield, eating chocolate/vanilla marble cake and strawberry ice cream. Giovanni stood at one end of the field; Harry, Ric, and Lyn stood at the other. The billionaire fiddled with his cufflinks idly, smiling slightly, blue eyes bright. Ric tugged at his fingerless gloves; his twin flexed her fingers and tossed her head, making her braid flip over onto her left shoulder. Harry flexed his fingers as well, kissed his perfume-bottle necklace for luck, and pulled his Go-Goggles down off the top of his head to cover his eyes.

"You ready, old man?" Harry called, playful; Giovanni smirked at him.

"Anytime, brat," he replied; gesturing at the watching crowd. "Nidoking," he called; a large blue-gray Pokémon stormed out, roaring and smacking his fists to his chest aggressively. A horn gleamed on his head and he snarled at the Tricksters.

"Whoa," Ric murmured; Lyn pulled out her purple PokeDex. The two boys moved close, peering over her shoulder as the 'Dex beeped and began to talk in a computerized female voice.

"Nidoking," It said aloud. "This Pokémon is aggressive. It likes to fight and sharpens the horn on its head daily to keep it needle sharp. Its thick hide is able to take a lot of damage, and Normal-Type moves are mostly ignored. It loves to impress, especially females." Lyn closed it and slipped the PokeDex back into her pocket.

"Well, I think the big tough guy can be beaten!" She announced. "Let's show him a bit of girl power, Chloe!" She cried; the Rhydon stomped out, snarling aggressively at the opposing Pokémon. Lyn grinned proudly when the large female Pokémon stopped in front of her, fists clenched and glaring. Suddenly, the Nidoking had heart-shaped eyes, and swayed slightly, tongue hanging out of his mouth. He shook his head and waved at Chloe, flexing his arms impressively and striking poses.

"Hey, sweetheart!" he called loudly. "You like what you see? How 'bout a free ticket to the gun show?" he flexed impressively and continued to catcall and use one-liners on the other Pokémon. Chloe stared at him incredulously for a few moments, then gritted her teeth, a vein throbbing visibly in her forehead as she closed her eyes, fists clenched.

"That, that," she struggled with her temper. "That Numbskull!" She hissed furiously. Lyn looked between her Pokémon and Giovanni's confused. Harry was all but choking, he was laughing so hard.

"What?" The girl demanded, scowling at her friend; the young psychic gasped, struggling to answer.

"He's," he choked. "He's f-f-flirting with her!" He collapsed again, howling with laughter. Lyn blinked, stared at the Nidoking, then narrowed her eyes slowly as he blew Chloe a kiss and did a strange-looking curl-up with his thick tail.

"Oh, he's so dead," she growled. "Let's kick his womanizing butt, Chloe!" she cried; the Rhydon snarled her agreement. Giovanni gave his Pokémon a bizarre look.

"Yes, well," he cleared his throat, and took a noticeable step away from the gaga-eyed Pokémon who continued to make kissy-faces at the furious Chloe. "Let's get all the Pokémon out onto the field before then, shall we?" He looked over at the crowd again. "Rhyhorn," he called; the large, rhino-like rock-type lumbered out, silent but radiating confidence. It turned its pond-green eyes on Ric, and hunkered down, tilting its head forward, ready to charge in and do battle when the signal was given. Ric pursed his lips, then grinned.

"Let's go, Sasha!" He cried; with a challenging roar, the Gyarados sped into the field, sliding to a stop in front of her trainer, kicking up a small cloud of dust, blue eyes glaring and fixed on the Rhydon. Giovanni nodded, then looked at Harry for a few seconds.

"Dugtrio," he said suddenly, glancing towards the crown briefly. "Come on out. It's been a while, my friend." A trail of upturned dirt zigzagged into the field, stopping across from Harry. Instantly, three brown, tombstone-like Pokémon in a close cluster appeared, red noses round and large, black eyes staring at him curiously.

"Trio!" they cried; Harry pulled out his green PokeDex, flipping it open curiously.

"Dugtrio," the male computerized voice announced; Ric and Lyn moved closer, curious. "A ground-type. This Pokémon, made up of three separate Pokémon, is often used for mining. Its speed and ability to dig out entire caverns for miles is exponential and is believed to be the only Pokémon able to produce such results in Kanto" Pocketing the green rectangle again, Harry nodded.

"Oridina!" he called suddenly, smiling as the Charmander started, surprised. "Why don't you come out and give it a go, okay?" The Charmander, stared, then nodded determinedly, running over. She skidded to a stop in front of her Trainer, tail lashing and tiny fists clenched, glaring at the ground-type.

"Ready?" Mark asked from the sidelines, playing referee for the match; both side nodded. "Okay, three-on-three battle, side with the most Pokémon standing wins, blah, blah, you know all that. So, let's Battle!" He shouted, throwing a green bandanna in the air, and catching it before it hit the ground so he could hand it back to Heathers father, who smiled and slipped it into his pocket again.

"Nidoking, use Tackle; Rhyhorn, Headbutt. Dugtrio, use Dig!" Giovanni ordered; the Tricksters launched their own attacks.

"Chloe, kick his butt!" Lyn cried. "Use Iron Tail!"

"With pleasure," the Rhydon growled, tail glowing. She charged out to meet the Nidoking, spinning sharply and slamming the glowing tail into him, sending him flying. He got back up, shaking his head.

"Whoo-hoo, girl!" he laughed. "You're feisty! I like it." He grinned and Chloe snarled, stomping her foot.

"Sasha, use Watergun!" Ric ordered; the Gyarados obeyed, shooting one blast of water after another at the charging rock-type, who dodged left to right, charging ahead. He slammed into the water-type, sending the Gyarados sliding. Sasha reared back up though, and defiantly shot another blast of water, hitting the Rhyhorn in the side. The Pokémon roared, digging his feet in and closing one eye, teeth gritted, bracing against the blast.

Meanwhile, Harry and Oridina were looking around warily for Dugtrio, who had slipped underground. The Charmander was nervous, moving a few steps left and right every few moments. Harry shifted, wary.

"Just keep moving, sweetheart," he told her. "If he can't pinpoint your location, he can't hit you." Oridina nodded, and moved around quickly, looking like she was dancing almost. After a few minutes, Dugtrio erupted from the ground under her right foot, sending her stumbling. Startled, she instinctively attacked, swiping a claw. As she attacked, though, her claws glowed brightly, and slammed into the ground-type with much more force. Harry blinked, startled.

"Oridina, you learned Metal Claw!" He cried, delighted. "Use it again!" The Charmander swiped with her other hand, and was soon pushing the ground-type across the field, swipe after swipe. Sasha's Watergun tapered off, and the Rhyhorn shook himself, staggering with exhaustion, but determined.

"Sasha, use Bite!" Ric cried; Giovanni jerked a hand.

"Rhyhorn, use Headbutt!" He shouted; the Gyarados's teeth were met with a literally rock-hard skull, sending her flying again. Chloe and Nidoking were locked in a wrestling match, each trying to pin or throw the other; Chloe was getting madder by the second as the male Pokémon continued to flirt with her.

"Oridina," Harry cried, "use flamethrower!" Nodding, the Charmander clawed the weakened Dugtrio one last time and leapt back, taking a deep breath.

"Char!" She cried, and a stream of flames erupted from her mouth, slamming into the Dugtrio. Crying out, the ground-type slumped down, burnt and unconscious. Chloe managed to get an upper hand by headbutting Nidoking, making him flinch. The she used the move Seismic Toss, and threw him viciously. He landed on his head in a three-foot-deep crater. The Rhydon huffed, dusting off her hands as she stared down at the unconscious Pokémon.

"Ass," she muttered, stomping back to a cheering Lyn. Ric cursed as Rhyhorn used Headbutt again to counter Sasha's Bite.

"Use Wrap!" He blurted; the snake-like Pokémon instantly lunged forward, wrapping around the smaller Pokémon and squeezing viciously. Rhyhorn growled and winced, struggling. "Now use Bite!" Ric ordered; snarling, the water-type bit the Rhyhorn harshly. With a shuddering groan, the rock-types eyes rolled back and it went limp, unconscious. Sasha gently unwrapped from it, letting the Pokémon fall to the ground carefully.

"We won!" Harry cried; Ric and Lyn laughed, hugging each other. Harry ran toward Oridina, only to skid to a stop in shock as the Charmander began to glow. Everyone watched avidly as the glow slowly diminished. Standing in the Charmander's place was a Charmeleon, who stared at her claws and down at her body curiously.

"Oridina?" Harry asked, shocked; the newly evolved Charmeleon looked up at him shyly.

"Char," she said, voice more mature. "Harry?" she asked uncertainly; the boy psychic slowly grinned. With a whoop[, he ran forward and took the Pokémon's hands, spinning around in the groups classic happy-dance-spin-thing, making Oridina laugh and dance along happily.

"We won, we won!" Ric and Lyn sang happily; Giovanni smirked, crossing his arms over his chest, having recalled his beaten Pokémon. Harry, still holding Oridina's hand, ran over to him and hugged him around the waist. The billionaire ruffled his green-tipped-spiked-black-hair with one hand, and held out the other, palm up.

Resting in that palm were the three badges that would take the Tricksters to the Elite Four. Harry took them carefully, then beamed up at Giovanni. The Rocket Leader leaned down, kissed his forehead, then scratched Oridina on the neck, making her coo and all but purr happily.

"Congratulations, son," he said with a proud smile; Harry felt tears rise in his eyes, and hugged his father tightly, burying his face in the older mans chest.

"Love you, dad," he said, voice slightly muffled; Giovanni hugged him back just as tightly as Oridina ran over to play with Jesse's Wobuffet.

"Love you too, Harry," he murmured, kissing the boys head again. After a few moments, they broke apart and Harry, smiling widely, ran over to his still-dancing friends and gave them their badges. They instantly pulled him into another Happy-Dance-Spin (A/N: It's EARNED those caps, damn it! lolz!), pulling Heather, Charlie, and Mary into it as well, laughing.

"Now we're off to the Elite Four!" Ric cried, and Lyn nodded, eyes bright and determined. Harry hesitated, biting his lip.

"You guys?" He said; they looked at him. "I don't think I'm going." They stared at him, flabbergasted.

"WHAT?"

With Dumbles…

He'd figured it out! He'd found a spell that would take him to that stupid brat! A lock of the boy's baby hair, a gift from Lilly and James, and three drops of his own blood, and he'd be transported to within walking distance of the brat! Grinning triumphantly, Dumbledore cut his thumb lightly, flicking three drops of blood on the black lock of hair. Murmuring the words to the spell, holding tightly to his wand, the old wizard disappeared with a flash of gold and purple.

He reappeared in a forest clearing. Smirking viciously, he lifted his wand.

"Show me the way to Harry," he ordered it; it spun three times on his palm, then pointed in a direction. Smirking, he slipped the wand up his sleeve and started walking, long legs eating up the distance. I will find you, my boy, he thought with feverous intensity. And when I do, you shall pay for the humiliations you've caused me. No worries. You will suffer. I'll make sure of it.

Back with Harry & Co…

"Can we talk privately about this?" Harry asked softly, shifting. Ric, Lyn, and Heather latched onto him, dragging him into the nearby trees. They kept walking until they reached a cliff. There, they sat in the grass over-seeing the ocean.

"What do you mean, you're not coming?" Heather asked, confused.

"We can't go-" Ric said,

"Without you, boss!" Lyn finished, scandalized by the thought. Harry shifted uncertainly.

"Well, it's just, well," he hesitated. "I want to spend time with my dad," he said quietly. "I've never had one before, and I want to get to know him better. And," he added. "I want to focus some more on my Pokémon, try and get them to evolve into their stronger forms." He looked from one friend to another, feeling unbearably vulnerable. "Are you guys mad at me?" he asked softly; Ric and Lyn shared a look, then turned warm smiles on him.

"Never, Harry!" they both announced, glomping him happily. Heather smiled.

"I know how you feel, in a way," she told him quietly. "I never get to see my dad, and I want to get to know him. And sometimes I worry that if I don't talk to him again, then I might not get to. That I'll loose him again." Harry nodded, relieved that his friends understood.

"Thanks you guys," he murmured softly. Ric and Lyn grinned.

"There's always-"

"Next year-"

"Silly!" They cried; the group laughed. Rustling bushes caught their attention, and Shadow plunged from them, chased playfully by Harmony.

"Mama!" the black-and-green Vulpix cried, giggling. "Help, Mama! Aunt Harmony will get me!" Harry laughed when the fox-Pokémon leapt onto his knee, then onto his shoulder, twining around his neck to nuzzle his cheek. Harmony hopped into his lap, cuddling into his chest. Harry scratched her spiky fur, making her croon. Harry smiled and straightened her ribbon carefully, making sure the bow was still tight. Something caught Shadow's eye, and the small Pokémon jumped off of Harry to run to it, into the bushes.

"He's probably gone of to lick some poor creature," Harmony said with a roll of her eyes. Harry grinned.

"Probably," he agreed, standing. Harmony wriggled until he set her down. She didn't really like being off the ground since her evolution. Ric and Lyn helps Heather to her feet, then settled quickly into an argument over which berry was better, Oran or Aspear. Harry looked at Heather; the blue haired girl shook her head, smiling slightly.

"I don't know what life will be like if those two ever separated," she told him quietly; he shuddered.

"Parish the thought," he replied; she chuckled, and they watched the verbal tennis-match for a few moments. The sound of footsteps caught their attention, though, and they all looked over, curious.

"Um," Harry said, staring at the bizarre old man. His head and face was whiskery with white hair that was barely growing in. His blue eyes were bright and twinkling weirdly, and feverishly focused on them. His clothes… Were canary yellow and neon purple, and it really did look like he was wearing a dress. "Hello?" The psychic managed, eying him warily. Blaine would probably ask for his tailor, he decided; the old man slowly smiled, eyes twinkling even more.

"Hello Harry, my boy," he greeted cheerfully. "I've been looking for you," he announced; Harry stared at him some more.

"Why?" he asked; the old man tilted his head, still smiling. It was kind of creepy, really…

"Why, to return you to your aunt and uncles, of course!" The old man announced; Harry went pale and backed up quickly, terrified.

"W-what?" He choked; Heather, Ric, and Lyn all stepped in front of him protectively.

"Harry won't go back," Ric said sharply, eyes narrowed. "He can't go back. He's already been adopted. All the legal papers have been signed and are filed away neatly. You can't-" The old man had seemed to have heard enough. Blue eyes narrowed, face grin, he took a stick out of his pocket.

"Stupify," he said grimly; a red light shot out of the stick and slammed into Ric, sending him flying.

"Ric!" Lyn cried; her twin hit the ground, unconscious, his body rolling due to momentum, moving towards the cliff. Lyn lunged toward him desperately, grabbing his arm just as he went over. Heather ran to help, Harry turning to follow. Before he could, though, ropes wrapped tightly around him, from his ankle to his nose, efficiently gagging him. Falling to the ground with a grunt, Harry wriggled desperately, eyes wide.

"Harry!" Heather cried, starting to go back, but Lyn was slipping, her twin's dead weight pulling her with him over the edge. Looking between the two, Heather finally lunged over and grabbed Ric's arm with Lyn, heaving. The old man was staring at Harry's tied form, lips pursed.

"Shame on you, Mr. Potter," he scolded. "Your parents would be ashamed. Tsk," he murmured, starting forward. Harmony growled and crouched in front of her Trainers prone form. Her teeth glowed, and she lunged forward, attempting a Hyper Fang. The old man seemed unperturbed, though, and flicked the stick.

"Avada Kedavra," he said coldly; green lightly slammed into the Raticate, throwing her back. She hit the ground a foot or so away from Harry, her back to him, mouth open and eyes closed. Harry let out a muffled cry, struggling harder, eyes filled with fear for his Pokémon. "I never did like rats," the old man said idly, walking over. He poked Harmony with his foot. "Well, since that's taken care of, Harry my boy," he turned that blue gaze on the bound boy, who reared away from him as much as he could, torn between getting more space between him and this man and getting closer to his obviously injured Pokémon. The old man pointed the stick at him, smiling slightly, eyes feverish.

"Do you know how much I've wanted you here?" he asked the boy. "Bound and helpless under my wand? Where I could punish you for everything you've put me through? I was the most respected wizard in the world!" he snarled, baring his teeth suddenly, looking feral and insane. "I had power! Prestige! No one questioned my orders! And then you happened! Oh, I had so many plans for you, dear Harry, so many glorious plans!" He shook his head and turned his back, stalking a few steps away before whirling back again, growling.

"You were going to be such a perfect weapon," he said, "beaten into submission, totally malleable. I paid the Dursley's to make sure of it!" He snorted, sneering. "Clearly they were too soft. Waste of money, I tell you," he said, shaking his head. "You would have trusted me explicitly, you'd have seen me as your savior, snatching you from the abusive relative. And you would have died on my orders, the perfect martyr, and I would have been called a hero once more. Albus Dumbledore, mentor and friend of the late Harry Potter!" He sighed, smiling dreamily; then he shook his head with a put-upon sigh. "Ah, but those dreams have changed." He lifted his stick (Wand, Harry thought, remembering the "Wizard" part of the whole monologue…Why do the bad guys always monologue?) once more. "I'd like to say I was sorry, my boy," he said, eyes feverish once more. "But I'd be lying. Avada-" a black blur erupted from the bushes and slammed into Dumbledore's back, making him stumble. Shadow landed in a crouch, growling. The old man whirled, eyes narrowed.

"Another rodent," he said, sneering. "Avada Kedavra!" He said; Shadow dodged, blurring as he used Quick Attack to dodge three more such spells, slamming into the wizard's hest, pushing him back. Shadow landed with a sharp slide, spinning around to keep his bright green eyes on the old man, snarling.

"You want light?" he demanded. "I'll show you light!" He began to glow. Dumbledore, thinking that the strange creature was going to do something destructive (Like explode or something) threw up a Protego quickly. As he watched the small glowing creature begin to get bigger, Heather and Lyn finished pulling a now barely conscious Ric onto the grass. Immediately, Lyn clung to her twin, crying, and Heather ran over to Harry, working at his binds.

By the time she had gotten his mouth uncovered, the light had faded, and Shadow was exposed, crouching and continuing to growl. His green swirls were gone, leaving his fur black as pitch. His nine large, bushy tails were acid green, as were his eyes. Tossing his head, he threw it back and let out a long, eerie howl that raised the hairs on the back of everyone's neck. Harry coughed, gasping.

"Shadow!" he cried to the newly evolved Ninetails, who crouched, baring needle-sharp teeth at the old man, eyes glowing with fury. "Use Skull Bash!" The psychic shouted; Shadow lowered his head and backed up three steps. As he did, green flames licked up around his feet. Dumbledore dropped his shield and gathered his magic, preparing another Death Curse. The Ninetails lunged forward, blurring.

"Avada-" was all Dumbledore got to utter, before the large fox-Pokémon's skull slammed into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs and sending them both over the cliff.

"Shadow!" Harry screamed, struggling to sit up. He needn't have worried. As they watched, Shadow's new tails lifted and moved, tilting his body. All four paws hit the old man, using him to launch back onto land, landing gracefully, and sending the old man even farther. The fox-Pokémon huffed, watching as Dumbledore fell.

The old man twisted, trying to disapperate, and panicking when his magic seemed to refuse. Reaching for his wand, he stared in horror at his empty hand. The wand must have fallen when the blasted creature had attacked him! Feeling terror curl into his stomach, he tied to use his wandless magic, but it wouldn't work. He didn't know that, without a wand to guide it, his magic had morphed into psychic abilities, as it had with Harry. He didn't know that, by using his mind instead of focusing on the place where his magical core had been (Behind his heart), he could have saved himself. But no, he didn't know this. And so, Albus Dumbledore, once the greatest Light wizard to ever be born, corrupted by power and knowledge, fell to the rocks and thunderous waves below, to his death.

And so end the reign of a master deceiver.

Meanwhile, up on the cliff, Shadow trotted over to Heather and Harry, and blew out a small green flame, burning through the ropes. Harry threw his arms around his evolved Pokémon, clinging to him, shaking. The Ninetails licked his head, tails waving as he nuzzled the boys head. Heather sighed, relieved.

"That was insane," she announced; Harry nodded, sitting back. Turning quickly, he looked over at the Terrible Twins.

"Is Ric okay?" He asked; Heather and Lyn nodded, and Ric raised a hand weakly from where he lay, groaning as his twin helped him sit up.

"I feel like I just got trampled by a herd of Rhydons," he managed; Lyn laughed and threw her arms once more around her twin, hugging fiercely. Harry frowned and turned his head, spotting Harmony. Scrambling over, he touched the Raticate.

"Harmony?" He asked softly, shaking her slightly. "Come on sweetheart, wake up," he said, shaking her again. Shadow's ears pinned back and his tails slowly lowered. Heather frowned, then realization slowly dawned on her face, and horror made her cover her mouth, tears in her eyes as she took in the too-still form.

Harmony wasn't breathing.

"Oh no," she whispered; Harry used both hands, shaking the Pokémon again, fearfully.

"Come on, Harmony! Wake up!" He pleaded, beginning to shake as the Raticate continued to lay there, still. Heather cried silently, moving closer.

"Harry?" she whispered; the psychic looked up at her. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, no words coming. Harry stared at her crying face, then looked over at Shadow, who was whining low in his throat, shivering, tails tucked and ears back in distress. He looked over at the twins, who stared at him, pale as realization met them as well.

"No," Harry whispered. "No!" He shouted. "You're wrong! She's, she's just unconscious!" He picked up the small, still body, cradling it to his chest. "She'll be alright, we just have to take her to the Pokémon Center! She's fine! She's not-" he choked, shaking his head viciously in denial. "She's not!" Heather knelt slowly and wrapped her arms around the boy. It was the switch; Harry broke, weeping and clutching his Pokémon close.

"I'm so sorry," Heather whispered to the younger boy as he sobbed. Ric and Lyn cried quietly, clinging to each other again.

"She's not," Harry whispered, sobbing. "She can't be!" Heather hugged him tightly; he looked up at her, green eyes brighter with the sheen of his tears, begging her to tell him what he wanted to hear. Heather swallowed, and told him the truth.

"Harmony's dead, Harry. She's not coming back." Harry stared at her, then sobbed out one word, utterly heartbroken as he stared down at his Pokémon.

"Harmony," he whispered, choked. And so with the end of great evil, ends a greater good.

A/N: NOOOOOO! (Sobs) Harmony! ^Sniffles^ I hope Dumbledore burns in Hell! In fact, I know he does. BAD OLD GUY! (Goes to eat ice cream and cry over dead Pokémon.) Read and Review, I don't care right now. ^Sniffle^