Johto Saga

Chapter 16: Return to Silver and the Shadows Last Stand

Lance stands impatiently in the Reception Gate waiting for his cousin Clair.

He checks the time again, "She has kept me waiting for more than a day...and the presense I have been feeling at Mount Silver has been getting stronger. How much longer am I going to have to wait?"

A Dragonite that stands beside him senses his irritability but keeps quiet while thinking to himself, "I do hope Clair gets here soon. I hate to see Lance so irritated."

Lance looks at his Dragonite partner, "I guess it can't be helped. Let's go check the area. Maybe she is at Tojho Falls."

The Dragonite nods and follows Lance.

Clair looks at the group, then she remembers something, "Oh no! I totally forgot about my meetup with my cousin Lance."

Dragonite sighs, "This whole mess with Team Rocket sure threw us off course. If we tell Lance I think he will understand."

Clair looks at her Dragonite, "I sure hope so...despite how calm he may seem, he gets irritated quite easily if things don't go just right."

Charonus slowly stands up, still a little woosy from his battle with the twin Nidos, "Darn that Giovanni...wanting power for evil. I hope I never see him again."

Silver looks at Charonus and sees the hate in his eyes for Giovanni, "I feel the same way young Charmander. All I have seen from my old man is a lust for power that seems unquenchable. I feel that he is too far gone."

Charonus looks over to Silver, "I may hate the man...but I must keep myself calm and not let my hate consume me...disasterous things have happened when I have let hate take control."

Clair smiles a bit, "Keeping yourself balanced is a good thing to believe in Charonus.

As the group continues talking and getting prepared to leave, they begin to hear footsteps in the distance. Clair tells the group to lay low as her and Dragonite check on the situation.

Lance heads through the area of Tojho Falls feeling a strange chill in the air, "What is this feeling? The falls shouldn't feel this cold at this time of the year. Dragonite, keep your senses sharp for anything out of the ordinary. I have a feeling something may be wrong here."

Lance's Dragonite nods and keeps its eyes trained on the path ahead. As he looks forward, he notices two shapes in the distance coming towards them.

Clair looks around apprehensive as she and her Dragonite look around for the source of the strange footsteps. She motions for her Dragonite to take point and check around.

Dragonite nods and looks up the path as he continues to walk slowly forward. He sees a pair coming into view and recognizes Lance's telltale cape waving in the distance, "Clair, it's your cousin. He must of come looking for you because you didn't show up."

Clair sighs a bit, "I guess so..." She looks out and sees Lance come in to view for herself. She waves towards him, "Hey Lance. Sorry I missed our meeting."

Lance sees his cousin and responds, "You better have a good reason for keeping me waiting Clair. You know how upset I can get if I'm kept waiting."

Clair frowns, "Yeah, you have a dragons temper under that calm exterior of yours, but I do have a good reason for missing the meeting. Come with me and I'll tell you on the way."

The group waits for Clair's return wondering if maybe someone from Team Rocket might still be in the area. They begin to hear voices in the distance, followed by Lance and Clair finally returning.

Lance takes a look around and spots the group, as well as the frozen Nidos, "You were not kidding. By the looks of it, this was the scene of quite the battle."

Cynder looks up at Lance, then asks Clair, "Clair? Who is this with you?"

Clair looks over towards Cynder, "This is my cousin Lance, he is another dragon type trainer and champion of the Pokemon League."

Lance continues to look at the group and thinks back to several months ago to when the dark clouds gathered upon Mount Silver. He managed to speak with the previous champion, Red, with the help of his friend and rival Blue who told him of a group that looks like the ones before him. He looks towards the Charmander in the group, "Little Charmander, are you the one who brought the light back to the mountain months ago?"

Charonus looks over to Lance and nods, "Y-yes...How did you know that, and why do you ask?"

Lance smiles and responds, "A man with a Pikachu told me of a group that matches your description. He was a man of a few words though, but a friend of his was there as well and told me the rest. He said that your group defeated the dark shadows that day. As for why I asked, that is why I am here now and why I wanted to meet with Clair to see if she knew of your groups whereabouts. The shadows cling to Mount Silver once again. Luckily this time there is no barrier over the mountain, so no one will be hurt. We even had to suspend the Pokemon League activities for the time being."

Clair sighs, "I'm not sure that this group can be sent in again, seeing as what took place here. They are going to need help if they do go up there."

Lance looks down, "I agree Clair. For now it looks like the presense on the mountain is docile, maybe waiting for this little one to show. So your group may have time to recouperate. If we get to the Reception Gate, maybe we can get this group the medical attention they need."

As the group is moved to the Reception Gate with the help of Lance, Clair, and Silver, other events continue to take shape.

At the Dark Cave, Ho-oh continues to watch over his friend Lugia, while his three Sacred Beasts keep him updated on Shadow Lugia who is atop Mount Silver.

Suicune reports in to Ho-oh, "Shadow Lugia is awake, but he seems to not be taking any action."

Ho-oh responds, "He has to be plotting something...He should of sensed my presense by now. What could he possibly be up to?"

Suicune sighs, "That I am uncertain of, but he may be waiting for the young Charmander."

Ho-oh sighs as well, "Where is the Charmander's group now?"

Suicune responds solemnly, "I was told by Raikou that he is being carried towards the Reception Gate by three humans...Raikou said that Charonus and his group looked in really bad shape. Something must of happened to him in Tojho Falls."

Ho-oh looks at Suicune, "Three humans? did Raikou recognise any of them?"

Suicune responds, "One was the one who trains with dragons from Blackthorn, another was her relative, as for the third, I don't really know, but he seems to be friends with the other two."

Ho-oh has somewhat of a relieved look on his face, "They are in good hands then. I'm glad."

Lugia starts to stir, then opens his eyes, "Ho-oh..."

Ho-oh looks down at his friend, "I am here. Please don't get up too quickly."

Lugia frowns, "I feel the darkness growing...coming from my brother..."

Ho-oh looks at Lugia in shock, "W-wait...brother? Is Shadow Lugia your brother?"

Lugia nods solemnly, "Yes...and something must be done about him...where is the young Charmander?"

Ho-oh sighs, "I'll tell you, but you may not like it..."

As the two legends converse, Shadow Lugia looks out from his perch on the mountaintop.

"Where is that Charmander? I thought you said he would be on his way here." Shadow Lugia seemingly talks to no one, but is really speaking to Shadow Mewtwo who rests within him.

Shadow Mewtwo responds in Shadow Lugia's mind. "Another that I did not forsee, one that was tainted by the dark shadows tried to gain control of the Charmander. His efforts were thwarted by one who you changed. The Charmander was badly injured, and if our plan is to succeed, we need him fighting fit."

Shadow Lugia questions, "How do you know this? I couldn't sense anything recently."

Shadow Mewtwo sighs, "It is because your thoughs still wander. You are not focused on our goal. Get back on task and prepare for the Charmanders arrival!"

Shadow Lugia relents to the whims of Shadow Mewtwo, knowing full well that what he says is truth. He begins to align his power with Shadow Mewtwo's and begin setting the stage for the Charmanders arrival.

Charonus struggles a bit as he and the group gets help from some on staff Pokecenter nurses.

Clair looks over at Charonus, "Please try to calm yourself...These people are only here to help."

Charonus sighs a bit, "I'll try...but I'm uneasy around most humans..."

Bowser comes over to Charonus after being attended to. "Maybe it would feel better if I stand with you then."

Charonus smiles, "Y-yeah...thanks Bowser." Charonus, with Bowser now by his side is able to calm down somewhat. Charonus looks outside a nearby window and begins to think about his next move. As he watches the skies outside, he sees them darken.

Cynder is watching the skies as she stands outside the building, also thinking of the groups next move. She notices the skies darken as well, "Hmmm, it's too early to get this dark. Shadow Lugia must be making his move."

As Cynder continues to monitor things, the two legends Ho-oh and Lugia streak across the sky to the Reception Gate, landing close to her.

Cynder smiles as she sees the pair, "Lugia, and Ho-oh."

Ho-oh smiles, "Yes, we are here now. How fares the young Charmander?"

Cynder sighs, "He's being tended to by some Pokecenter nurses as we speak...but he took a lot of damage apparently from a twin Nido attack."

Lugia sighs as well, "So that is how he was injured. I too am recovering from my battle with my own brother..."

Cynder frowns a bit, "So we will be facing your brother then..."

Lugia lowers his head, "Yes...but it must be done to restore balance to Johto."

Ho-oh looks towards the mountaintop, "As soon as your group is ready, we shall lend you aid to the top. Let your group know."

Cynder nods, then heads inside and tells them of the plan.

It takes a day, but the group is able to be healed back up to nearly full strength. They head outside to where Lugia and Ho-oh are waiting for them.

Ho-oh looks towards the group, "The time for the showdown with shadows has arrived again. Lugia and myself will aid you as best as we can."

Charonus looks at Ho-oh with worry, "I wouldn't want you two to get hurt...maybe you should stay back and let us handle this."

Lugia sighs, "If it were only that easy. I'm afraid with Shadow Mewtwo's and Shadow Lugia's combined powers, it may be too much for your group to handle alone."

Cynder speaks up, "Lugia is right Charonus. Only as a team will we be able to do this."

Silver looks towards Cynder, "Then let Lance, Clair, and myself join you as well, please."

Draco looks over at Silver, "Wait, are you sure about that?"

Silver nods, as well as Lance and Clair.

Lugia and Ho-oh look upon the three humans, wondering why they would want to do this.

Lance sees their gaze, "Johto is not only your home, but our home as well. If someone threatens our home, they threaten everyone that resides there. We do this to help those that can't protect themselves."

Ho-oh nods, "The humans cause is just...but I hope they are prepared for the battle ahead."

Cynder relays the message to Clair, Lance, and Silver. The three humans nod in understanding.

Lugia smiles, "Then we should not keep my brother waiting. Charonus, Bowser, Chase, you shall ride with me."

Ho-oh nods, "Then I shall take the humans. The fighting will probably start once we reach the summit. Stay on your guard."

The group takes off and heads for the battleground on the summit once again.

Shadow Lugia sits upon the mountaintop stoicly after completing setting up his Shadow Sky. He opens his eyes as he senses the group getting closer, "Finally, the little Charmander and his group comes to play heros."

Shadow Mewtwo sighs from within Shadow Lugia's being, "Don't underestimate them. They are more powerful than they look."

Shadow Lugia gets a little angry, "I already know that, and don't worry I am sticking to the plan...eventhough I still don't like it."

Shadow Mewtwo responds, "Yes, I know you don't like it, but it will help us claim the young one in time. It may take days, months or even years, but he will be ours once we manage to take control of his darkness."

As the pair talk, the group arrives.

Shadow Lugia looks over as he feels them land and is surprised to see who came with the Charmander. "Well, what a pleasent surprize. After that stunt you pulled, I thought you were dead Ho-oh."

Ho-oh responds, "It will take more than what happened to destroy me completely. You forget that a phoenix is reborn in flames."

Lugia chimes in, "I hope that you are ready brother...eventhough it will pain me to get rid of you, it must be done for the prosperity of Johto."

Shadow Lugia scoffs, "Prosperity brother? Human fighting human, Pokemon fighting Pokemon, even humans fighting against Pokemon and vice versa. That isn't prosperity. It is a spiral of violence that must be stopped, and only a force of true power can stop it. Subjugation or extinction...one way or another all will fall in line!"

Charonus listens to this. A burning hatred wells up inside hearing those words, "Rule by your tyrannical ideas will never work. Yes there are those that want to harm, but there are those, like my group and those here with me today that work with eachother in the hope that peace can prosper. It will if we keep the balance within and without!"

Shadow Lugia begins to laugh and taunt Charonus, "Balance? Bah, such a pathetic concept. Teeter on that knife's edge long enough and you will be split. I see it within your future."

Charonus keeps calm, "There is no way of knowing what future has in store. I will work to make it a bright future!"

Shadow Lugia sighs, "You are going to go through with this...so be it. It ends here. Show me your light and let me eclipse it with my shadows."

Another voice is heard from Shadow Lugia, "And let me join in the fun as well." As this voice says that, Shadow Mewtwo materializes beside Shadow Lugia.

Draco, Cynder, and Bowser gasp in horror, seeing someone they vanquished standing before them again.

Charonus stares down this old nemesis, "So, you have returned to torment me again? You won't win this time either."

Shadow Mewtwo laughs, "I have already won, you just don't see it yet. Now show me the fires of the Charizard that rest within you!"

Charon speaks up from within Charonus, "If you want, but Charonus and myself fight as one." Charonus' aura flares out as he and Charon combine forms again in their Charizard form.

Shadow Lugia smiles, "But for how long will you be one. This bond will be broken!"

As Shadow Lugia keeps Charonus' and Charon's attention, Shadow Mewtwo secretly prepares the first stages of his plan by making a Shadow Slash attack near the three humans.

Out of the corner of Cynder's eye, she notices the Shadow Slash, "Silver, Clair, Lance!"

Bowser hears Cynder yell out and rushes to their aid with a Whirling Fortress, knocking the Shadow Slash away with his shell, "Such a low being you are..."

Chase snarls at Shadow Mewtwo, "How dare you try and do that to our friends!"

Shadow Lugia perks his head up, "Well now, is that the little doggie I hear?"

Chase looks towards Shadow Luga as he speaks to Cynder and the group, "You guys take care of the cat, I want to chomp some bird for what he did to me."

Draco nods, "Keep yourself and Charonus safe."

Chase nods and heads off, leaving Draco and his group with Lance and his group.

Shadow Mewtwo looks at the group of humans and Draco's group before him, "Six versus one seems hardly fair."

Bowser snarls, "Fair, like how you used that one human's Pokemon against us when we fought last?"

Shadow Mewtwo smiles, "Just evening up the playing field."

Cynder gets a little mad, "Using others for your own gain. That is just terrible."

Shadow Mewtwo looks at the dragoness, "Tell ya what, I promise I won't take control of anyone to do my fighting for me, as long as the humans stay out of the way. I want to see your trio's full power. Show me this balance that the little Charmander has ben enamored with."

Bowser cracks his knuckles, "Gladly, I've been meaning to give you a personal beating ever since that stunt at Cinnabar."

Cynder looks back at Lance, Silver and Clair, "Go help out Charonus, let us handle this."

Shadow Mewtwo smiles as he watches the humans run past, "Sending them to their doom, how nice of you."

Draco stares Shadow Mewtwo down, "It is you and Shadow Lugia who will go down."

Shadow Mewtwo smiles as he forms blades of shadow upon his paws, then quickly rushes in to attack Draco. Bowser quickly gets in the way and blocks for his Charizard buddy.

Bowser looks at his friend, "Don't hold back Draco, you as well Cynder. Lets finish this quickly."

Draco and Cynder nod as they prepare to attack with all of their might.

Shadow Mewtwo smiles at this and backs off somewhat, "Yes, come at me. The sooner you overpower me, the sooner that my plan to control the Charmander will be done!"

As Draco, Cynder, and Bowser begin their fight, Charonus, Charon, and Chase stare down Shadow Lugia.

Shadow Lugia looks towards Chase, "How have you been enjoying life as a lowly dog."

Chase growls, but doesn't answer.

Shadow Lugia laughs, "Oooh, touched a nerve have I. I'm sorry, hehe."

Charonus looks at Chase, then back to Shadow Lugia, "Tell me, why did you do this to him? Why change his form?"

Shadow Lugia laughs louder, "Oh, that? I did it for fun, but also to keep him out of the way. He should of stayed in his own region and never of tried to visit my dear brother."

Chase barks out suddenly, "He is my friend! I will visit him when I want."

Shadow Lugia scoffs, "Friendship? With a worthless shell like yourself. Please..."

Chase's anger boils over and he leaps at Shadow Lugia with a surprising combination of Slash, knocking the shadow avian back, followed by a Ice Beam attack, shaking Shadow Lugia to his core.

"W-wait, how is this possible? I sealed your attacks. You are a Houndoom. Ice is beyond you!"

Charon sees this and smiles somewhat, "You think that ice is beyond a fire types capabilities? He's just tapped into his inner self, just like Charonus has with me." Charon and Charonus charge towards Shadow Lugia themselves using Volt Tackle to get in close, followed by a Ice Fang, clamping down and freezing Shadow Lugia's left wing.

Shadow Lugia caws in anger as he tosses Charonus and Chase away from him, "The plan be damned, I'm taking you two down now! There is no place for you two in my new world of shadow!"

He charges himself up and takes aim, but at that very moment Shadow Lugia gets slammed by a twin Hydro Pump followed by a Hyper Beam. He looks around and sees a Feraligatr, Kingdra, and Dragonite standing behind Chase and Charonus.

Clair taunts Shadow Lugia, "Looks like someone needed to cool off. You were squaking a bit too much."

Shadow Lugia glares at the three humans, "How dare you mock me. You and your Pokemon will be exiled by forefiting your lives for my new rule!"

Charonus smiles, "It really is a shame. Such an unbalanced mind. Your fall is fast approaching."

Shadow Lugia composes himself as best he can, "As I have said, balance is like a knife's edge..."

Charon frowns, "Charonus and myself know, but we will hold balance for as long as we can."

In that moment, Shadow Mewtwo comes flying into Shadow Lugia looking battered. He looks up to Shadow Lugia and speaks to him with telepathy, "The time is now, lets enact the plan."

Shadow Lugia scoffs, "If this plan doesn't work, you will be the one eclipsed forever by my mind. Do not forget that."

Shadow Mewtwo smiles, "It will work, trust me. The little one wants balance, and he will try to balance us with his own power, but first we must cast off our mortal forms."

Shadow Lugia smiles as he takes Shadow Mewtwo back into his form. His body begins to glow in a dark light, "Time to end this charade then. The shadows will swallow you!"

Charon and Charonus in tandem respond, "We will balance the darkness with light. Your plans stop here!" Charonus and Charon look at the group behind him, "Everyone, use your most powerful attacks. Take this being of darkness down!"

Lugia looks at his dark brother and silently whispers, "Forgive me for being unable to save you...but you have gone too far to darkness..."

Ho-oh looks upon Shadow Lugia, "With this, the land of Johto will be spared from your tyrranical ideas. The shadows will be balanced by the brightness of our light!"

Charonus and Charon prepare themselves, putting all of their power into their multi attack of the abilities they learned from their travels so far.

Chase preps himself, drawing deep from within some locked away ice power and adds it to Charon's and Charonus' attack.

Draco, Cynder, and Bowser prepare themselves as well, channeling their attacks together into a fiery ball of plasma energy.

Silver, Lance, and Clair order their Pokemon to use all of their might and strongest attacks and coordinate with the others.

Ho-oh, and even Lugia charge up as well with a Sacred Fire and Aeroblast respectively.

Charon yells out, "Everyone, give me your power. Add it to my attacks!"

Everyone takes aim and combines their attacks with Charon's and Charonus'. Once they do this, they fall to the ground exhausted and can only watch as the Charizard before them takes control before they eventually pass out from the strain of giving the Charizard all of their energy. The single bodied duo strains quite a bit from this power given to them, but they manage to keep their balance. They take aim at Shadow Lugia who waits stoicly and refuses to defend. The duo puts this out of their mind and lets the combined attack go, dropping to their knees as they watch.

Shadow Lugia looks at the oncoming attack as it strikes him square in the chest. Before the attack engulfs him completely he lets out a sickening laugh of someone who is lost to darkness, much like Giovanni before. This shakes Charonus and Charon a bit as they see Shadow Lugia completely engulfed now.

The attack burns bright, but then starts to shrink in size and power eventually dissipating into nothingness, except for two small jewels that shine with a dark light. Charonus falls down completely with a smile on his face before falling unconsious and losing his form. Both his inner and outer selves now in a deep slumber

The group wakes sometime later and looks around, not seeing Shadow Lugia.

Draco shakily gets to his feet, "D-did we...do it?"

Cynder gets up slowly as well and takes a look around, spotting Charonus near the spot where Shadow Lugia stood, "I don't see Shadow Lugia. He must have done it."

Chase gets up and kneels over Charonus and nuzzles him, "Charonus? We did it. Wake up." He continues to try and rouse his Charmander friend from his sleep.

Clair comes over to Chase and Charonus. Chase looks at Clair with a sad look on his face. Clair looks down at the Houndoom, "It may have been too much for him. We need to get him back to the Reception Gate."

As the group gets back together, Charonus wanders his dreamworld and spots Charon, "Charon? Did we do it?"

Charon looks at Charonus, "That...I have no idea."

As the Charmander sleeps, his body begins to show signs of some change within. His body begins to get hot, worrying his friends.

Bowser looks towards Lugia and Ho-oh, "He's burning up. We gotta get him help now!"

The group makes their way and hurries to the Reception Gate to get their friend the help he needs after this tough battle.