Lucario jumped in front of me, raising his fist to meet Zeraora's, only to be hit in the side and sent crashing into the wall. The ice around him cracked and he reverted out of his mega form, collapsing forwards.
"Eve," I said, but Zeraora was in front of me now, fangs bared. I watched as a few sparks of electricity ran along his maw, then glanced back up at Eve. "I don't want to fight, not unless I have to."
"Good," she said, turning her back on me. "Then you and your friends can stay right there. I have to finish this."
"Eve," Robert walked forwards, but Zeraora held out a paw, claws extending, so he stopped moving, but kept talking. "We know you're trying to bring Cassandra back. But if what you're going to do to accomplish that will hurt Xerneas and Volcanion, we can't allow that."
Eve stopped walking, then, "Zeraora."
The Mythical Pokemon stepped back, his electricity dying away, but he was still wary. The leader of Team Radiance turned around and sighed. "Do you mean that?"
Robert looked confused. "Uh, yeah?"
Eve shook her head and waved her hand. "Follow me."
Zeraora closed his maw and began following her. Looking at my friends in confusion, we did the same after I returned Lucario to his pokeball.
"In the beginning I only had hatred towards you," Eve said. "I thought I would do whatever it took to get revenge and bring my mother back." She stopped in front of the tank containing her mother, nodding at Kamake who stood next to a console. "Everything stable?"
Kamake nodded, tapping a few keys on her tablet. "Yes. Vitals are stable?"
"Vitals?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow. "She has vitals."
"Not..." Eve pursed her lip. "Not Cassandra. Xerneas."
"Xer-?" Alex looked at the tank near Cassandra's, the white ancient tree floating inside clear liquid.
"We've been taking care not to harm her," Eve said, walking over to the tank and placing her hand on the glass. "That release of energy only happened so we could keep her stable."
"What about Volcanion?" I asked.
"Not one to miss anything huh?" Eve smiled drily and motioned for us to follow her again. We went to a metal door framed on the wall, the ice cracked around it. She nodded at a grunt and he pressed a couple buttons on a keypad mounted next to it. With a hiss, the door opened, steam releasing. The door was pulled all the way open and inside was a smaller room, but plenty big for the Pokemon inside.
Volcanion rested inside in a pool of water, steam filling the entire room. He looked much healthier than he had back at the Power Plant and didn't have a single wire attached to his body.
"I realized something during my time here," Eve said, a smile on her face now. "Team Radiance was originally created for a good purpose. Somewhere along the way, Cassandra's way of seeing that got twisted. Now, I mean to bring Radiance's old ideals back."
"So you exchanged information with Flare to obtain Volcanion," Robert's eyes widened as realization spread across his face. "Not to use him for easy energy to power your machines, but to save him."
She nodded. "Exactly. We did ask Volcanion ourselves if he could spare any energy. If he had refused, we wouldn't."
"And you never thought to inform us of your newfound goodness?" I asked her directly.
Eve smirked. "Would you have honestly believed us? Would this have gone any other way? You just travel around, seeing yourselves as heroes who stop the bad guys. I couldn't change that. Even now I bet there's a part of you thinking this is all a trick and that I'm actually doing something evil here."
She closed the metal door. "Volcanion's only staying here for as long as he needs to. And we'll stay to protect him."
"What about Cassandra?" Alex jerked a thumb back at the tanks. "How does this not affect Xerneas?"
"It does affect her," Eve said, then clarified. "But it doesn't harm her. She already gives off powerful Life energy just by existing. And when she revived your Greninja, it was only amplified. We are simply just gathering up the stray energy and storing up power."
"But why?" I asked. "Why bring Cassandra back? She's gone. And what if it doesn't work?"
"Zeno," Eve said softly. "Have you lost people you've loved?"
I took a step back, memories of Willow surfacing. I didn't answer, which Eve took as a yes.
"If you had a chance to bring them back," she bowed her head, hand pressed up against the tank that held her deceased mother. "Wouldn't you at least try?" She turned to look at me in the eyes. "You had Greninja returned to you. All I'm doing is asking for the same. What makes one life more precious than another?"
I didn't have an answer for her, as the words struck me in my very core. The lives I had ended, I had no right to do so. That was one thing I didn't think could ever be forgiven, nor did I deserve it.
"Even if this fails," Eve gripped a fist. "I at least hope I can say my goodbyes this time."
"Eve," Kamake said, walking forwards.
"Is it time?" she asked.
Kamake nodded and Eve said, "Keep Xerneas stable. We don't want to endanger her. If it comes to having to choose, save Xerneas."
"Ma'am," a grunt came running up. "The Champion is coming."
"Diantha's here?" Eve seemed surprised.
"I'll go explain," Alex volunteered and ran for the exit to intercept Diantha.
"If I see anything go wrong at all," I said, meeting Eve's gaze. "I'm going to shut this down however I have to."
"Fair," she nodded and looked back at the blue-haired Technical Officer. "Start."
A few keys were pressed and the tank Cassandra's remains were suspended in began to glow blue. Bubbles shot upwards, clouding the water. Several machines hooked up to it hummed gently, growing in intensity.
"Everything's stable," Kamake noted.
As soon as the words left her mouth, one of the machines sparked and the screen cracked.
"Zeraora," Eve said and her Mythical Pokemon leaped forwards, pressing his paws on the machine, absorbing stray electricity. The cavern shook slightly and I could feel energy in the air. A blue aura surrounded the tank, the bubbles increasing. Eve pressed her hand to her mouth, eyes hopeful. I looked at the tank Xerneas was in and saw that nothing was going on in there.
"What is this?" a voice asked from behind us. I turned to see Diantha stepping forwards with Alex coming up beside her. The Kalos Champion looked tired, but she tried to hide it, her Gardevoir also at her side.
"We'll see," Robert said, studying the machines with practiced eyes.
The glass cracked, fissures spreading across the tank.
"Kamake," Eve whipped her head to look at her.
Kamake's expression was tight as she concentrated on her tablet. "Nearly there... NOW!"
A grunt on standby pressed a button and the humming noise ceased, the blue aura dying away. Cracking sounds were heard in the silence that followed, then nothing. The blue water inside was murky, a form barely visible within. Eve stepped closer, almost hesitantly, and pressed a hand against the glass. Then a hand within the water pressed up against the glass right where Eve's hand was. Eve gasped and stepped back, then shouted, "Get her out of there!"
"No way," I heard Alex breathe behind me. "They actually did it..."
The water began to drain from inside and a section of the glass pushed outwards. Eve rushed forwards, draping a large towel over the figure laying inside. An actual person, her red hair vibrant as her daughter's. It had felt different when Xerneas brought back Greninja. More right. This... this felt different, more unnatural. But... did that make it wrong?
"Mother," Eve spoke gently, hand brushing Cassandra's cheek as she cradled her head in her lap. The woman stirred, eyelids fluttering wildly. She lifted her shaking hand, trying to reach for her daughter. Then she gasped as her body convulsed violently, a scream ripping from her lips.
"MOTHER!" Eve shouted, trying to keep Cassandra still. She turned her head. "Kamake!"
Kamake stepped forwards, sticking a needle into Cassandra's neck. The woman spasmed for a couple more seconds before settling, her body shaking. After several minutes, Cassandra's eyes opened once more, focusing in on Eve.
"You..." her voice was weak and ragged. "Eve?"
"Yes," a couple of tears fell from her. "Yes, it's me, Mom."
"Hah," Cassandra breathed softly. "Where am I? It's freezing."
Eve made a point to glare at a grunt and he hurriedly went over to a machine, turning up a knob. The air got much warmer and Cassandra sighed in relief.
"Much better..." she tried to move, only to groan. "This... doesn't feel right."
"It's okay mother," Eve whispered. "It'll be okay. You're safe now."
"What happened?" she asked, trying to lift her hand.
Eve clasped her mother's hand. "That doesn't matter now."
"No..." Cassandra shook her head as much as she could, expression becoming strained. "I..." Her eyes widened and she choked out, "Shadow!"
Her hands flung to her head, holding it in agony. "Shadow Shadow Shadow Shadow! WHY!?"
"Calm down," Eve tried to get her to stop, but to no avail.
"Alola," Cassandra's eyes were wild. "I was supposed to save it! A new Alola, a better one! He was supposed to help me! But... but..." her voice trembled now. "Hero Born of Darkness... The ceiling... Collapsed..."
Her eyes shot to look up at her daughter and rasped, "What have you done?"
"I- I saved you!" Eve sounded as if she was holding back sobs. "Mother, I brought you back."
"He's here," Cassandra's voice shook with fear as she looked around wildly, trying to move away, but Eve prevented that. "He's coming for me!"
"Eve," Kamake stepped forwards. "Something went wrong during the revival. She isn't entirely herself."
"But-" Eve was cut off as Cassandra's gaze shot to the blue-haired scientist.
"You!" she screamed. "KAMAKE!"
"Mother," Eve held her mother close to prevent her from moving around too much. "Please, calm down. You're alive, your safe."
"Eve," Cassandra spoke, suddenly calmer and moved to embrace her daughter as best she could. "You've grown, haven't you. When was the last time I gave you the time of day?"
"That doesn't matter," Eve said gently, but her mother shook her head.
"I thought I could do it," she spoke. "I thought with his help, I could save Alola. I was a fool. My life's work was to save people and Pokemon. Where did it all go wrong..."
"Zeno," she said more loudly, more clear. I started, shocked as her eyes turned to look at me, more clear than they had been this entire time. "Hero Born of Darkness. You had to clean up my mess and paid the price. Thank you."
"I cannot be forgiven," Cassandra's body seized up and she groaned in pain. She clasped both sides of Eve's head, smiling. "Don't let my mistakes be my legacy. Don't let the darkness consume you as it did to me."
She slumped back, breathing slowing.
"Mother," Eve sobbed, hugging her tightly. "I love you." She took a deep breath, then said one last thing in a whisper. "Goodbye."
...
"What are you going to do now?" I asked Eve, who was staring ahead in a daze.
"What?" Eve shook her head, looking at me.
"What's Team Radiance's plans now?"
Eve turned to look at Diantha. "In hopes that Radiance isn't taken down, I mean to do what has always been the plan."
"And that is?" Diantha asked.
Eve gave a small smile. "Protecting others. Like what our names suggests, we will bring light wherever it is needed. Vanquishing the darkness has always been Radiance's endgame." she held out her hand to Diantha. "I see a region in peril right now, tormented by a despicable cult. We'd like to offer our assistance."
Diantha narrowed her eyes. "That won't be enough to get you out of being trialed."
"Then how about this," Eve nodded at Kamake and she stepped forwards.
"We've done some searching and we believe we know of Team Flare's whereabouts," Kamake said, showing the Champion her tablet's screen.
Diantha sighed, rubbing her eyes. "Fine, I'll let you go for now. Just don't cause trouble for me or Kalos in the future."
"Wait," Eve grabbed her wrist, studying her. "You're barely able to move about. We know what the Cult did to you." she glanced at Kamake. "And I believe we might be able to help with that."
The scientist nodded. "While the Life particles may not have fully revived Cassandra, they did mend her body. If we tweak it, we could likely purge you of whatever plagues you."
Diantha shook her head. "How can I trust you?"
"You can't," Eve smiled. "But if our goal is to bring light back into the darkness, what better way than to heal Kalos' Champion?"
Diantha was silent for ten seconds before she nodded. "Fine."
"You sure about this?" Robert asked, eyeing Team Radiance warily.
"No," Diantha smiled. "I would be a fool if I was. But," she gripped her hand and I could tell there was little strength behind it. "Whatever is in me, it continues to sap at my health. Kalos needs me more than ever, so I have nothing to lose. Besides, I have Gardevoir to protect me."
Gardevoir nodded and moved closer to her trainer.
"If I'm to stay here," Diantha looked at the three of us. "I won't be any help in taking down Team Flare. I'll contact Looker and have him contact you three. I'm afraid Kalos still needs you all."
"Don't worry," Alex waved her hand. "We're used to it by now."
Diantha gave a soft laugh. "It seems so. While you wait, I believe there's a gym badge awaiting two of you in Anistar City."
"We'll do our best," I said.
"Zeno," Eve stepped forwards to face me. "Next time we meet, I hope you'll do me the pleasure of facing me in battle."
Zeraora growled in agreement, sparks flying from his paws.
"Sure," I nodded.
"Alex," Kamake held out something for her. A golden pendent sat in her palm with a gold chain. Situated in the pendent itself was a round stone with light and dark blue curving stripes with white in the middle. "Take this."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Kamake smirked. "Because I believe Absol has been happier with you than she ever has with me."
"Wait..." Alex blinked. "Say what now?"
Kamake turned and walked away, waving her hand back at us. Alex began spluttering and Robert and I pulled her along. I looked back at Eve and Team Radiance and realized we had not parted as enemies as we usually did. This time, we parted as allies. I could only hope it stayed that way.
"Hey," Alex tugged herself from our grips. "It's Frosmoth."
She pointed at the end of the tunnel where we could see snow and light ahead. The Ice/Bug Pokemon gently floated at the exit as if it was waiting for us.
And the Life Arc has ended. Not as climatic as some of you were probably expecting, but hey, there's plenty of that just waiting to be written. Next up is the Death Arc where Zeno, Alex, and Robert now shift their focus onto Team Flare. Anyway, Summer is finally here! No more school for several months! As I've said before, I want to try and finish LDOC before school starts up again as I will almost definitely be much more busy than ever before, but I still don't know if that's entirely possible. I'll be planning ahead, so hopefully I can do it. I want this to be a productive summer and I can only ask for your continued support. So, until the next update. Toodles!