Welcome!
Glad you made it this far! Here is my (hopefully) epic finale!
Part 15
By the time the team flies over Celadon City, the sun is setting beneath a blackened sky causing a red hue to reflect off the metallic buildings. From above, the city looks like a warzone. Smoke rises from cars that have been tossed around and destroyed. The bodies of humans and Pokemon alike litter the streets after having had their souls stolen away by the monster. The Kanto National Guard has arrived as an attempt to fend off the ginormous beast that appears to be finding much pleasure in the destruction of the city. Since it had flown away earlier, the original team can tell that it has grown in size and power.
Silhoungan lets out a fiery plume that sends the guard members fleeing. Then it turns towards the nearest building which happens to be the largest building in the city, The Celadon Department Store, and heaves himself up by kicking in the windows to use as steps. A sadistic laugh reverberates from deep inside its throat.
"So that's the demon from the prophecy," Ash ponders aloud as he watches the monster.
"Silhougon," Phoenix responds, "that's what it called itself."
"Let's see if we can weaken it from the sky while it's on the building," Ash directs, "and then Raichu and I will take him on down on the ground."
"Don't hurt him too much," Phoenix begs, "that's my Charizard, Charvo."
"We'll do what we can, Phoenix," Austin assures him.
"Charizard," Ash addresses his own winged lizard, "take Misty and River to the Cerulean City Gym. Stay with them there."
The large dark orange lizard grunts in obedience.
"Ash, Phoenix, be careful," Misty pleads. She would be battling beside him if she didn't need to protect their young daughter.
"Of course," Ash nods, "be good, River."
Charizard roars again and takes off with Misty and River.
Ash pulls a Pokeball from his belt and throws it up. A much larger black dragon appears next to them.
"What is that?" Phoenix asks, bewildered by the monstrous Pokemon.
Ash chuckles, "I guess I never introduced you to Zekrom."
"I guess not," Phoenix says quietly, looking up at the stern looking turbo dragon.
"Let's go save Charvo," Austin chimes in, "and the world!"
Ash leads the charge towards Silhougon who reaches the top of the department store and revels in the damage it does as it leaps from building top to building top.
"Attack!" Ash yells as they approach.
Silhougon turns its massive head at the sound only to be met with a combined blast of dragon pulses and flamethrowers from Dragonite, Salamence, Zekrom, and Kuro. It screeches as it is nearly thrown off the roof. Its sharp claws hold tight to the concrete of the roof and scurries back up in anger.
"Fools!" the monster roars, "I warned you!"
"No," Ash states firmly, "we're warning you now. Return to your banishment or you will be destroyed."
"You cannot destroy me," it laughs gutturally and mocks them, "and even if you managed to, you wouldn't be able to save your precious Charvo."
"You leave Charvo right now!" Phoenix screeches furiously.
"You've trained him well," Silhougon responds, grinning evilly, "so I think I'll stay put."
As it finishes its threats, it turns around and swats at them with its tail.
Ash with Dragonite and Zekrom fly left, sending masterful beams of dragon pulses at the monster. Phoenix, Quinn, and Austin fly right with Salamence and Kuro, blasting it with flamethrowers. Silhougon reaches out to slap them out of the sky, but its enormous size makes it hard for it to move quickly enough to catch them.
Silhougon roars in frustration, finally releasing a dark shadowy beam that brushes against Salamence, causing it to nose dive in an attempt to escape the beam. To Phoenix' surprise, it doesn't follow them as they fly towards the ground.
"It can't fly!" Phoenix concludes loudly, "it gained a lot more power and grew, but it is too big to fly now!"
"How does that help us?" Quinn asks, holding tightly to him.
"Well, we are a lot more mobile!" Phoenix states excitedly, "it gives us a better chance."
"Zekrom, thunder!" Ash commands. The turbo Pokemon charges up and calls down lightning from the clouds in the sky.
"Argh!" Silhougon groans in agony at the direct hit. It is enough to knock it to the edge of the building where it hangs off by its front claws.
"Zekrom, outrage!" Ash orders, pointing at Silhougon.
Zekrom roars, building up his rage, readying himself for a full on attack. It zooms towards Silhougon and slams itself into it. Both of them careen off the side toward the ground. Zekrom and Silhougon slash and bite at each other as they fall. The team races after them to the ground.
Ash's breath hitches in his throat at the sight. Silhougon stands over Zekrom's lifeless body breathing in his soul. The monster stands tall and grins wickedly.
"NO!" Ash shouts as Dragonite lands on the ground. He jumps off of Dragonite and runs to Zekrom. Anger builds up inside as he realizes the severity of the situation.
"I told you to stay away," Silhougon sneers at them, "take this as your last warning."
"This is my warning for you," Ash screams up at the monster, pulling the golden ball out from inside his shirt, "the prophecy says that we'll bring you down."
Raichu materializes still in his mega evolved form, ecstatic to be fighting alongside his master once again.
"You don't understand the prophecy foolish, human," Silhougon taunts, "no mere rat can save this world."
Ash's jaw clenches in anger. This demon has not only offended him and his strongest Pokemon, but has taken the life from his prized Zekrom.
"We'll see about that!" Ash shouts, "Raichu, moonblast!"
Raichu uses the power of the rising moon to shoot a beam of light directly at Silhougon.
Silhougon roars frighteningly but shakes off the effects of the powerful move. It releases a dragon pulse at Raichu who uses agility to dodge out of the way.
"Kuro, use flamethrower!" Austin orders his Pokemon.
"Can you help too, Salamence?" Phoenix asks the large dragon who nods in response. Dragonite joins in as well.
Silhougon screeches as the flying Pokemon swarm around his head. He bats at them trying to knock them away.
"Raichu, give it your strongest electric blast! Thunder!" Ash orders and Raichu immediately complies. Lightning rains down from above and stuns Silhougon enough to fall forward and slam into the ground.
"You've weakened it!" Phoenix cheers for his father and Raichu after eight long years that Raichu's connection was severed.
A deep groaning sounds from inside the beast as it rises onto its four legs.
"Enough of these games!" it roars as it stampedes towards Raichu and Ash.
The monster slams Raichu with the back of its claw sending him flying towards the nearest building. It stares wickedly at Ash. Its eyes glow a brighter red and it opens its jaws.
Ash resists as the creature draws out his very essence.
"NO," Phoenix screams as he runs towards the beast, "leave him alone!"
As the monster turns towards Phoenix he watches his father's body collapse to the ground.
"I told you to give up!" Silhougon torments him, "I told you this wouldn't end well for you, but you had to try to be a hero. Look what that cost you."
"Dad!" Phoenix kneels next to Ash who has become motionless, and tears fall from his eyes, "NO! Dad, I just got you back."
A guttural laugh is produced from inside the monster's belly, but it wastes no more time on them. It turns away, slapping its giant tail against the buildings as it goes.
"Help us!" Phoenix shouts to Austin and Quinn.
"No, this isn't supposed to happen," Austin shakes his head at the sight of Ash's lifeless body, "Raichu was supposed to win. That's what the prophecy said."
"Rai," Raichu limps over to them slowly, having pulled himself out of the building he had been flung into. They hadn't noticed that he had lost his mega form until they see his ruffled orange fur. He drags himself to Ash and collapses onto him, crying out for his master.
"What do we do?" Quinn asks feeling the weight of the issue soak into her once again.
"Raichu," Phoenix thinks aloud, looking at the mouse laying across his father's body. He wants to kick and scream and sob over his father's body, but he feels numb. The world feels like it is ending and he needs to save it. He would grieve later.
"What about him?" Quinn asks, following Phoenix's eyes.
"Why did Silhougon slam Raichu away when he could have taken his soul too?" Phoenix wonders aloud, adrenaline pumping through his body.
"Wait, wait," Quinn says allowing her thoughts to form, "why didn't it take any of ours?"
"It could have taken our souls back at the Rocket base but it didn't," Austin adds, "and it could have killed us here too."
All three people ponder these thoughts as they watch as the beast terrorizes Celadon City from afar.
Phoenix looks at the monster, once his trusted friend. Then something occurs to him.
"Charvo," Phoenix whispers while staring at the beast, "it's Charvo!"
"What do you mean?" Quinn asks.
"Charvo is stopping Silhougon from taking our souls!" Phoenix finally concludes, "that's why Silhougon only threatens us and never hurts us!"
"What about Ash?" Austin asks, "why did Silhougon take Ash?"
"Because Charvo never met him!" Phoenix explains.
"So how do we use this to our advantage?" Quinn asks. She doesn't understand how it will help them win.
"I don't know yet," Phoenix admits, "but I think we need Charvo to fight it."
"How do we communicate with Charvo though?" Austin asks, unsure about Phoenix's conclusions.
"I don't know," Phoenix admits despondently, "but all the cards are on the table, so we need to use what we have."
"Cards," Austin whispers to himself, "the ace."
"What are you mumbling about?" Quinn asks curiously.
"I got it!" Austin surprises them by pulling a ball off his belt, "I didn't understand what he meant at the time, but it all makes sense now."
"What do you mean?" Phoenix is confused by Austin's rambling.
"He told me that I would know when," Austin continues, "he told me to keep her a secret until I needed an ace!"
"Who told you what?" Phoenix asks, barely comprehending him, "keep who a secret?"
"All this time, I never even thought about it," Austin looks down at the Pokeball and speaks lovingly to it, "but it's been you."
He clicks the button on the ball which opens, pouring out a light brown creature. It's ears and tail are long puffs of gold, while it's belly and paws are white. Its yellow cheeks spark with electricity, and its light blue eyes stare up at Austin waiting for a command.
"Rai-aichu!" it cheers, not knowing the dire situation they are in.
"An Alolan Raichu?" Quinn asks, observing the tropical variant of the Kanto Pokemon.
"You've had a Raichu this whole time and you didn't think to mention it?" Phoenix asks, furious at his friend.
"Look, my brother told me to always keep it a secret unless I absolutely needed her!" Austin explains.
"This whole time we thought my dad's Raichu was the one from the prophecy," Phoenix says, "but maybe we needed a psychic Pokemon, an Alolan Raichu. Maybe she can form a bridge!"
"A bridge?" Quinn asks, "What do you mean?"
"I need to reach Charvo!" Phoenix tells them, "we can't beat Silhougon, but Charvo can! If Charvo can stop Silhougon from taking our souls then he can defeat Silhougon! I know he can!"
"Joule, our Pokemon friend is trapped inside that monster," Austin explains to his Raichu, "do you think you could help create a psychic bridge so that Phoenix can communicate with him?"
"Raichu!" Joule nods in agreement.
She scurries up Phoenix and clings to his back.
"Raichu?" his father's Raichu looks up from Ash's body.
"Stay with dad, Raichu," Phoenix orders the large mouse. "We're going to put a stop to this."
Phoenix with Joule on his shoulders runs toward Silhougon. Austin, Quinn, and their Pokemon follow quickly after.
"SILHOUGON!" Phoenix yells as loudly as he can, catching the attention of the monster.
Silhougon turns toward the group slowly, chuckling madly, "back for more?"
"It's over," Phoenix tells it, "Joule, help me out!"
Joule, who hangs tightly to Phoenix's back, begins building her powerful psychic abilities. Both Joule's and Phoenix's eyes glow blue as she forms a link with Silhougon, attempting to find Charvo's consciousness.
Silhougon screeches as it feels Joule's link intruding on its control of its host body. It flails in anger, smashing into the building and nearly stomping on Quinn and Austin who run away from it.
"CHARVO!" Phoenix screams as his consciousness connects with Silhougon's and he finds himself on his knees in a dark void. "Where am I?"
Phoenix looks around, but cannot see even his hands in front of him.
"Okay," he breathes, trying to calm himself, "I am in a psychic link with the beast, and I have to find Charvo."
When his Pokemon's name slips from his lips, he can suddenly see a flickering light in the distance.
He doesn't know if he can even get closer, so he starts by standing and taking a step forward and then another. He feels heavy in this space as if Silhougon is trying to push him out. When he sees that he is getting closer to the light, he starts running as quickly as he can.
He sees it now. It is a small flame flickering maybe two inches high.
"Charvo?" Phoenix asks hopefully, approaching the light.
Upon closer inspection he sees that the fire is not attached to anything and simply continues to dance.
Phoenix is unsure what to do next.
"I am inside the consciousness so there are no physical forms," he thinks aloud, "so how do I speak to Charvo?"
The light grows slightly at the sound of Phoenix's voice.
"Can you hear me?" Phoenix asks, excitedly staring at the flame, "Charvo, are you there?"
It seems to dance with his voice again.
"Okay, then listen," Phoenix says aloud, hopeful that Charvo can hear him.
"We didn't understand the prophecy," Phoenix begins to explain, "No one out there can defeat it… not even my dad. Long story."
The light flickers again.
"But the Raichu in the prophecy is an alolan Raichu. That's how I'm here to speak with you - using a psychic link! You have more power than you think, Charvo! You have been stopping Silhougon from hurting us. Only you have the power to defeat it!" Phoenix urges, but nothing seems to happen. The flame doesn't flicker or grow.
"Charvo! Please," Phoenix begs, "please hear me! We need you! I need you! I love you, buddy."
But as he falls to his knees, he feels himself falling away from the light, and suddenly, he is on his knees on the sidewalk of Celdon City. Joule jumps off of him and stands in defense.
"Fool," Silhougon smirks, showing his razor sharp teeth, "you think your weak little Pokemon can defeat me. I am a god!"
Silhougon charges at Phoenix who can only attempt to scramble backwards away from the beast. It grabs onto Phoenix tightly and lifts him into the air.
"Your precious Charvo has no power and I will show you both," Silhougon roars at Phoenix as it tightens its grip.
"CHARVO!" Phoenix screams desperately as he feels Silhougon's sharp claws piercing his abdomen.
"PHOENIX!" Quinn screeches at the sight. Austin grabs her by the shoulders and holds her back.
"Charvo," Phoenix says, gasping for air, "it's okay, Charvo. I know you tried your best. I love you, buddy. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
"RRAAARRGH!" Silhougon roars in frustration, "kill the boy!"
"Wait," Austin says hopefully, "Silhougon can't do it."
"CHARVO!" Quinn screams, "Charvo, kick its ass!"
"Go attack!" Austin commands the Pokemon, "Raichu, psychic! Kuro, Salamence, dragon pulse!"
"Come out, Arcanine and Wartortle!" Quinn calls, "help out with flamethrower and hydro pump!"
Silhougon screeches as the Pokemon attack it while it tries to regain control of the body that it highjacked.
"Keep it up!" Austin encourages them, "it looks like it's working!"
Slowly, Silhougon lowers its arm and sloppily tosses Phoenix across the sidewalk, leaving a trail of blood pouring from his side.
"Phoenix!" Quinn screams as she runs to him.
"YOU BELONG TO ME!" Silhougon roars furiously, "OBEY ME!"
But Silhougon is no longer in control. It slams against the nearest building and scratches at its head with its long claws letting out a sickening cry.
Light spews from every crevice of the monster's face as it screams. Its body shrinks as it releases the souls of the humans and Pokemon that it had devoured causing it to shrink second by second until the figure left is in the shape of a familiar winged dragon.
Then the awful black aura is expelled from every pore and scale of its body. It lifts from him and dissolves into the air leaving behind a nearly unrecognizable Pokemon collapsed on the ground.
"Phoenix!" a worried voice shouts from behind the team.
"Uncle Ash?" Quinn asks in happy surprise as he and Raichu, who has regained his mega evolution, race towards them.
"I must have passed out," he explains briefly as he falls to his knees next to Phoenix. Then he checks Phoenix's pulse.
"Thank Arceus," Ash breathes a sigh of relief, "his pulse is okay, but he needs help."
Ash opens his shirt to find three puncture wounds on his left side. He pulls his jacket off of him and rips it into three pieces.
"Quinn," Ash calls her, "I need you to help me put pressure on these."
"Yes sir," she nods and kneels on Phoenix's other side. Then she places one of the cloths on the highest puncture wound and presses down.
Phoenix gasps at the painful pressure, waking slightly and coughing.
"Dad?" He asks, surprised to see him alive, "I thought-I thought you died."
"No, son," he wipes Phoenix's hair from his eyes, "you saved me. Again."
"Charvo?" Phoenix asks, enduring the pain to look around for his Pokemon.
Ash looks over to the spot where Silhougon had just collapsed to find a creature lying motionless on the concrete.
"That can't be Charvo," Quinn states in confusion, "Charvo was shiny - black with red wings."
Before them lay a creature that is larger than the average Charizard but shares many features. It is pure white across most of its body except the faint light blue that covers its underbelly and the inside of its wings. Strange bony spikes protrude from its spine and the tips of its wings. Its claws are long and razor sharp. Its jaw is stronger, longer, and sleeker than they remember.
"But, don't you see?" Austin points out, running towards the Pokemon, "Charvo had to vanquish every bit of darkness from its body to rid himself of Silhougon! Of course that took a toll on him. His body couldn't go completely back to normal after everything that happened!"
Charvo groans as Austin pulls his head into his lap.
"You did it," Austin tells Charvo, petting his head affectionately, "you saved the world."
Charvo mumbles in a questioning tone.
"He is okay right now," Austin shares, "but he needs to get to the hospital."
Charvo moves his legs and tries to push up against the ground.
"No, you need to rest," Austin orders, "we'll find a way to get Phoenix there."
Charvo doesn't listen and pulls himself to his feet. Then he limps slowly over to where Phoenix lays. Phoenix's eyes soften when he sees his Pokemon -albeit looking much different than expected.
Charvo mumbles a sad apology, resting his head near Phoenix's.
"No, buddy," Phoenix smiles at his starter, "you were amazing."
"We have to get you to the hospital now," Ash insists, desperate to help his son, "you're losing a lot of blood, Phoenix."
Charvo tries to stand and spread his wings but cannot manage.
"No, Charvo," Ash pats his horns softly, "you're going to the Pokemon Center as soon as possible too."
"Phoenix can't ride alone," Austin says, "maybe Salamence can help us."
"I have a better idea," Ash says. He sits up and pulls his fingers to his mouth letting out a high pitched whistle.
From across the city, they hear a powerful roar and Zekrom appears flying between the buildings.
"I have a feeling I wasn't the only one who woke back up," Ash says, grateful that his Pokemon is alright.
"Okay, let's hurry." Austin nods.
"Quinn, fly ahead on the other Charizard and make sure the hospital in Fuschia City is prepared for his arrival. Austin, you sit up front. He's going to need to lean on you." Ash directs them. "I will sit behind Phoenix and make sure he stays secure and doesn't fall off."
The two teens agree to the plan and they return the rest of their Pokemon including Charvo.
Then, they set off towards Fuschia City, hoping they aren't too late.
There you have it!
Aw man, this may not be as good as Heading Home, but like, I am proud of myself for writing a worthy sequel. I really wanted to try my hand at more foreshadowing and adding a little mystery too and I think I accomplished that to some degree. I hope you like how it turned out as much as I do.
But there are still some loose ends aren't there? Some things that maybe you're wondering about? Guess I have to give you an epilogue ;)
P.s. Good to hear from you, Tigercat111! You've been reading since the beginning, so I was a little worried about you! Thanks for your reviews, friend!
Love, Alert, Review!