The Battle at the Tree of Beginning: The Power of Millions
"ZYGARDE'S GONNA DO WHAT NOW!" The seven other trainers atop the ridge exclaimed.
Looking up at the large serpent Pokemon, it met Ash's gaze and nodded its head. While primarily motionless atop the ridge for this entire battle, it was now time for the Legendary Pokemon of Kalos to ascend to an even stronger form. Emitting a high pitched shriek from its body, Zygarde called out to all of its Zygarde Cells scattered across the globe, as its body was cloaked into a green aura. Lunging high into the air, millions of glowing beams of green light emerged over the field, and began building upon the Kalos Legendary, giving forth their power to form something much larger.
As Zygarde absorbed the essence of its cells, its Power Construct Ability was activated. Forming a set of arms and legs for itself, along with a hexagonal pattern across its frame, the Order Pokemon charged up the green Aura from around it, focusing it into a beam in front of the Pokemon. Launching its attack forwards, Zygarde's Core Enforcer shot downward to the battlefield below, carving a 'Z' into the wall of Gravelers, blowing them backwards into the mouth of the tunnel. Even from a great distance away, the force of the Legendary Beast's attack was enough to blow out the blockade, especially since the Psychic enforcers were no longer a factor.
"What a magnificent beast," The elderly Bertha said, witnessing the might of the Ground/Dragon Legendary.
"Your pathway is open," The Psychic-Type Elite Four Member said, turning to Ash. "Best of luck on your upcoming fight."
"Thanks Lucian," The Aura Guardian said, shaking the man's hand. "Team Alex! Let's GO!" Ash shouted, leaping off the ledge first, tossing out his Charizard and boarding its back. Blue, Alexa and Alex followed suit, tossing out their respective flying types (Charizard, Swellow and Corviknight) and flew behind Ash, rocketing down towards the opening.
Hanging onto their ride Pokemon tightly, as the wind whipped his hood off his head, Ash's presence was known only to the Rockets that spotted him. However, whenever one did, it was only a matter before they would launch an attack on his position. Right now he had to focus on getting his Team into that opening.
Soaring upwards on the backs of Fearow were a fleet of 30 Aerial Rocket Grunts, coming head on at the Aura Guardians. Before they could reach their target, however, the Rocket's Airborne force were soon met by faster members of Ash's Army, which began picking them off. Sweeping in from the left, eliminating five Grunts were Brandon and Cynthia aboard Regidrago and Garchomp. From the right came the Kanto Champion Lance aboard his Dragonite, knocking down two more to the ground below. Next, was Dawn and her Togekiss, who swooped up from below, knocking three more Grunts off their rides with an array of Air Slashes.
"That's almost half of our forces!" The Grunt said turning to his superior. "At this rate we'll be out of people before- Gahhhh!" Before the Grunt could finish his sentence, a jetstream of water rocketed up into the air, knocking the trainer off his Fearow. Soon after, another volley of water jets shot upwards as May and Manaphy's attention had been drawn to the trainers focusing on Ash and the other Aura Guardians. With this attack, only eight Rocket Aerial Specialists remained.
"This is it!" The Superior said to his squad. "Drill Peck- Ooof" The man clad in black said, upon being hit in the stomach by a small projectile boulder, fired from behind the group of Guardians. Falling off his steed, his fleet soon began to worry as their Captain landed on the ground below.
"Who was that?!" Alexa called forwards to Ash. Soon, however, the teen got her answer as a woman aboard the back of a female Charizard soared overhead.
"MOM!?" The two Ketchum siblings exclaimed as Delia Ketchum charged forwards, with her newly caught Larvitar in her arms.
"C'Mon Sandy, let's give them another Rock Blast!" Delia exclaimed, holding her Rock Skin Pokemon outwards in her hands.
"Larvv!" The Pokemon excitedly cheered, sticking its hands out to either side. With a white glow in its mouth Larvitar fired three small, but dense boulders at the remaining Grunts. With each rock hitting their target, Delia pulled up on her Charizard, saving the remaining four Grunts for the Aura Guardians.
'Promise me you'll be safe out there,' Delia thought to herself, witnessing her two children pass below her. 'Do what you have to do to save the world…'
"Flamethrower!" Ash and Blue exclaimed to their Charizards.
"Steel Wing!" Alex and Alexa exclaimed to their Corviknight and Swellow.
Breaking off, Blue and Ash took to either side of the group and hit their targets on the end with a Flamethrower. Meanwhile, Alex and Alexa continued forwards, clotheslining the final two Grunts with the metalic, flashy wings of their bird Pokemon. Regrouping in their formation, the Team was almost at the Tree's opening. However, a new Aerial Rocket specialist on the back of a Mandibuzz had now caught onto their tail.
Sensing his presence, Alex commanded his Corviknight to open its wings out to either side. Resisting the wind, the Champion of Galar and his Pokemon used the drag to fly backwards, appearing behind the Rocket and his flying Pokemon.
"Alex!" Alexa called out looking behind her.
"Eyes forward!" Blue shouted over the air rushing past the trainers. "He'll be alright!"
'We're gonna make it!' Ash thought to himself seeing the hole to the innermost part of the Tree growing closer and closer. 'We're gonna do this!' However, the man had spoken too soon. In a red flash of light before the trainers, two Gigantamax Machamps took the field, and began to reach their enormous set of hands outwards in an attempt to grab the oncoming Trainers. 'Shit!' Ash thought to himself. Thinking fast, there was only one thing that he had in mind: making sure his companions would be protected.
Charging forwards on the back of his Charizard, Ash pulled out its ball from his belt and returned his Pokemon, allowing his angular fall to send him rocketing down to the G-Max Machamps. Turning their attention to Ash, the duo of muscular titans reached out their large orange hands to grab Ash as he made his fall.
Letting out a powerful roar, blue Aura surged around Ash, before a large blue sphere manifested around him. With the palms of the G-Max Pokemon crashing onto either side of Ash's shield, it took all of Ash's focus to maintain this shield so the rest of Team Alex could scatter. Clenching his teeth, Ash looked down, witnessing Alexa and Blue passing underneath him heading straight on for the Tree of Beginning. As the sides of his protective sphere began to crack and spider out around him underneath the fingers of the G-Max Machamps, Ash struggled to hold the shield for much longer.
"HEY UGLY!" The voice of Mallow exclaimed aboard the back of her Flygon, with a Pokeball in hand. "Try this on for size!" Pitching her ball forwards, the grass type Pokemon Tsareena burst out of its ball with its right leg jutting outwards, delivering a Trop Kick to the face of the G-Max Machamp to the left. Stumbling backwards, Ash's orb was freed to drop down to the ground below.
"KOKOOOO!" A loud shriek pierced Ash's ears as his blue Aura Shield diminished around him. When Ash came to, he saw a ball of electricity rocketing his direction. Catching the trainer in its arms, the Melemele Island Guardian rocketed down to the ground at an immense speed, breaking through behind the enemy lines.
Arriving at the opening to the Tree first was Blue and Alexa, who met Ash's Lucario, and began throwing out Teammates so they could secure the entrance.
"Saur! Poli! Pika! Gyara! Snor! Vee!" Blue exclaimed, throwing out the Pokemon that Ash's father had entrusted with him.
"Ursaring! Aegislash! Whirlipede! Pinsir! Hitmonlee! Sirfetch'd!" Alexa exclaimed, releasing her own arsenal of six Pokemon.
With their twelve, plus Ash's Lucario forming a U-Shape to secure the mouth of the Tree, the group managed to clear out enough of a landing strip for their invasion.
Having a spot to touch-down, Tapu Koko carried Ash down to the ground below in its arms, placing him on two feet. Reaching within his robes, Ash pulled out all six Pokeballs which were clasped onto his tactical vest underneath. "Lapras! Incineroar! Meowth! Butterfree! Snorlax! Melmetal! May the Aura guide you!" The Aura Guardian exclaimed, adding his forces to the mix, before conversing with his rescuer.
"Thanks for the help back there," Ash said with a grin, seeing the Legendary Island Guardian for the first time in years. "You always have a knack for saving my skin."
"Kokooo," The yellow and orange deity cooed, hopping back in place, happy to see Ash face to face once again. The Guardian deity then reached out its right, beak-like hand, placing an object into Ash's palm.
"No..." Ash said with disbelief in his voice, looking down at the black band which rested in his hand. "Is this-"
'You're Z-Ring,' Tapu Koko said through the Aura, marking the first time Ash could actually understand what the deity was saying. 'Long ago you got rid of it, and lost sight of who you were. However, now I see that it is truly fit to be used by you once more. Bring balance to our world once more, Guardian Ash.' Tapu Koko said, bowing its head before the Aura Guardian.
As tears welled in his eyes for a brief moment, Ash blinked them away as he strapped the black Z-Ring back onto his wrist, opposite of his grey Mega Bracelet. Looking down at it, he observed the brown crystal that resided embedded in the face of the bracelet.
"Hey, how did you know-" But before Ash could even ask, Tapu Koko had rocketed off with a shriek, reentering the battle once more. "Alola, Tapu Koko." He said, glancing back down to his returned bracelet.
"Ash!" Alexa called running to her brother's side. "Alex is coming in hot!"
Turning his focus off his Z-Ring and back out onto the battle, he witnessed the Champion of Galar rocketing towards them on the back of his Corviknight, with a swarm of three Beedrills in pursuit.
Popping up to two feet, riding on the back of his Corviknight like surfboard, the trainer leapt off his regional bird, behind the 'U' of Pokemon. Hitting the ground and digging his heels into the dirt, the Galarian Professor spun around in place, returning his Corviknight as it passed by, and faced an oncoming swarm of Beedrill.
Releasing the energy from within his white Dynamax Band, the stored Tree Particles entered his Corviknight's Pokeball as it began to grow to an immense size. With an underhand toss, Alex sent out his fourth Dynamaxed Pokemon: the Terror of the Sky, G-Max Corviknight. The beast larger than a commercial jet emerged from the base of the Tree of Beginning sending a torrential gust of wind with sharp, metallic feathers spiraling within the attack. Caught in the torrential stream of wind, the pursuing Beedrill were blown off course. However, for the second time without him noticing, Alex's white Dynamax band surged with electricity following the transformation of his Pokemon.
"That's some entrance," Ash said, appearing at the side of his comrade. "But I can't let you have all the fun." Pulling out his Melmetal's Pokeball first, Ash returned his Mythical creature before him. Giving it a soft toss, releasing the Tree Particles within his band, his Melmetal's ball grew to an immense size. Using two hands to give it an underhand throw, Melmetal's Pokeball launched into the sky, opened up and dumped a silver liquid onto the field, making the Grunts towards the center of the field scatter. The goo, however, soon took shape, rising higher and higher above the field. Flinging its hex nut hands out to either side, Ash's Gigantamax Melmetal had now entered the battle. Glancing back down at his white band, he noticed its gage was full, meaning it was ready to Dynamax once again.
"These bad boys hold a charge like crazy!" Alex exclaimed, excitedly Dynamaxing his fifth Pokeball. Lobbing it forwards, the next G-Max Pokemon to emerge atop a blazing orb or fire was G-Max Cinderace, who rolled out forwards towards Melmetal's left, causing the Grunts in its path to scatter in all directions to avoid getting burned. "My theory about these being just regular old Dynamax Particles could be wrong! Because maaaan do I feel powerful!"
"Lapras, return! Butterfree, return!" Ash said, recalling his two Pokemon at once. First, releasing his Dynamax energy into his Lapras's Pokeball, Ash threw it towards the large lake on the field (as it was the best terrain fit for a Lapras.) Emerging from its ball and making quite the splash, Ash's water taxi during his time in the Orange Islands was now a towering behemoth, sending a gust of snow across the enemy Pokemon.
Next up was his Butterfree, the very first Pokemon Ash ever caught. For a brief moment, Ash held his ever-faithful companion's ball in his grip. He remembered how Butterfree's home and mate were taken away from it long ago by the same vile man they were fighting on this day. He hoped that in this moment, Butterfree could feel a sense of justice. Releasing his stored particles into its ball, Ash tossed the Pokeball out onto the field before him. Emerging through the ball were the enormous, brilliant wings of a G-Max Butterfree. "FREEE!" The Pokemon exclaimed, letting out a low pitched hum as it soon took off over the battlefield, slamming its enormous body into the shoulder of a G-Max Machamp. As it did, it kicked up a cloud of powder that lulled the G-Max Pokemon to sleep. As its eyelids grew heavy, the Pokemon toppled backwards and landed on the ground, forcing the trainers on both sides to scramble out of the way before getting crushed.
Having secured the entrance to the Tree of Beginning, the Aura Guardians and their Pokemon witnessed the rays of sun on the field shift to a dark, orange color, as if the sun were setting. In all actuality, the moon had finally crossed paths with the sun, meaning the Arceus Eclipse Phenomenon was now upon them.
"Alex! Ash!" Blue exclaimed, pointing a finger up in the sky above him. "Eclipse is underway! We better get in there now."
"Right!" The Two Guardians exclaimed as they turned towards the mouth of the Tree, seeing Alexa standing there with her Aegislash and Hitmolee at her side.
"Guys behind you!" Alexa shouted, causing the two Guardians to drop down to the battlefield below. Swooping down on the two men, from the back of her Salamence, igniting the grass before them on fire was the Admin Sierra.
Getting off the ground first, Alex hoisted Ash off the ground by grabbing the back of his robes, getting their leader back to his feet. Giving Ash a shove forwards to get him moving, Alex called out: "I'm right behind you! Just let me take her out!" Ash broke through the wall of fire, rushing towards his sister, Blue and the Tree of Beginning.
Pulling out his final Pokeball to Dynamax, Alex clutched it tightly, eying the Admin and Salamence coming in for another attack. Taking a deep breath, Alex felt the Aura radiate around him as his eyes began to glow blue. However, just as the Professor released the stored particles from within his band, the white Dynamax band around his wrist surged with energy. This time, however, the band which was strapped around his right wrist, went up in a blue explosion that shot up the trainer's arm. Letting out a cry of pain and recoiling backwards, the Galar Champion dropped his Dynamaxed ball which remained unopened on the ground.
"ALEX!" The three Guardians at the mouth of the Tree shouted as the man flew backwards, landing sprawled out on the ground, his right arm charred from the explosion.
"You're mine!" The female admin said aboard the back of her Salamence with malice in her voice, locked onto the unconscious Champion.
Bounding in front of the trainer, throwing its body between the trainer and the oncoming attacker was Ash's Meowth. "If you want him, you're gonna have to get thru' me!"
Without hesitation, the female Admin said: "Flamethr-"
"HYPER BEAM!" A male voice exclaimed, to the right side of Sierra. In a flash, the wide orange blast of a Hyper Beam struck the Hoenn Pseudo-Legendary, hitting its neck and shoulder area.
Speeding downwards, landing on the field in front of the unconscious trainer was the hooded Brock with Pikachu on his shoulder, aboard Aerodactyl. "STEELIX! FORRETRESS! TOXICROAK! BLISSEY! SUDOWOODO! SWAMPERT!" The Pewter City Gym Leader exclaimed, throwing out his arsenal of six to provide even more cover for the trainers. Turning around, Brock's Hoenn starter extinguished the flames behind them with a Water Gun, opening the path back up for Ash, Alexa and Blue. Leaping off of Brock's shoulder, Pikachu sprinted across the field on all fours, making its way over to the team of Aura Guardians.
'What happened?!' The Pokemon exclaimed, witnessing Ash and Blue hoisting up the unconscious trainer, avoiding his damaged arm.
"Alex's prototype must've broke! Couldn't hold the stored power of the particles anymore," Ash said, glancing over, seeing a reawakened G-Max Machamp rising back up to its feet. "Lex!"
"Got it!" The teen frantically said, charging forwards to Alex's enlarged Pokeball. Bending down, she lifted the yoga-ball sized item in front of her, giving it an underhand toss with two hands. Erupting onto the field, throwing its golden claws outwards and rising onto one leg, was Alex's G-Max Rapid Strike Urshifu, which let out an immense roar upon seeing the Kanto Fighting type. Leaping forwards with its right foot cloaked in water, the G-Max Urshifu delivered a powerful spartan kick to the chest of the Pokemon.
Retreating back to the mouth of the Tree, behind their U-line of Pokemon, the group of trainers knew that getting into the tree was their best bet of keeping their friend safe. Having broken off from the 'U' formation, Incineroar, Snorlax, Meowth, Ash's Lucario, Hitmonlee and Aegislash made their way to the group of trainers so they may enter with the trainers.
"Ash!" Brock exclaimed, pointing at the wave of Rocket Grunts charging at them. "We gotta find a new way to plug this hole or it'll all be for nothing!"
"Incineroar, take Alex!" The Aura Guardian said, as his Heel Pokemon took Ash's place in carrying Alex. With Blue, Incineroar carried the unconscious Champion deeper into the tunnel of the Tree. "Lex, you take Lucario and your Team and you follow them!"
"But- but I can't leave you out here!" Alexa screamed with panic in her voice.
"I'll be right behi-"
"THAT'S WHAT ALEX SAID! AND NOW HE'S HURT!" Alexa said, shoving her brother as tears welled in her eyes. "Why do you have to try and be the hero all the time?"
"Ash, I have a plan!" Brock said cutting in. "But I'm gonna need both your Dynamax band and Snorlax's ball."
The realization of Brock's plan set in. "Brock, you're a genius!" Ash said as he unclasped his Dynamax band and handed it over to the Pewter City Gym Leader.
"But Brock! What if you get hurt like Alex did?" The teenager cut in. "And Ash! The Tree's defense system!"
"This is what has to happen," Ash said, looking his sister in the eyes. "I can't Dynamax Snorlax from inside the cave!"
"And that's just a risk I'm gonna have to take. This one's seen some action," Brock said clasping the white band to his wrist. "But if I don't do this then you guys will be kept from meeting Giovanni."
"And then... there goes the universe..." Alexa said, coming to terms with their plan. "Alright! I'm with you!"
"Hey, uh, Ash," Meowth said down at its trainer's feet. "I wanna stay out here too. And help this twerp here cover your six."
"If you insist, pal," Ash said with a grin, reaching within his robes and unclasping two balls from within his robes. "We'll see you at the end of this." Handing the two Pokeballs over to Brock and sharing a nod with him, the duo of the Ketchum Siblings along with Pikachu, Lucario, Aegislash and Hitmonlee, all entered the tunnel into the Tree of Beginning.
"Hey-uh, Twerp," Meowth said, standing to the left of the Pewter City Gym Leader. "Who woulda thought that one day we'd be fighting on the same side?"
"Well given our circumstances," Brock said, witnessing the incoming Rockets throwing out Ultra Balls, setting up a wall of 16 Nidoqueens and Nidokings. "I'd say we're rallying behind a noble cause."
"Snor!" Ash's enormous Pokemon said lumbering to the sides of the trainer and Pokemon. Returning Ash's Pokemon to its ball, Brock charged forwards with his Team of six, as well as Meowth towards the incoming rockets. Spinning around before colliding with the enemy forces, Brock released the Tree Particles stored within Ash's band, sending Snorlax's ball flying back towards the Tree of Beginning.
Erupting from its ball, casting an enormous shadow over the orange-tinted battlefield, Ash's Snorlax grew to an immense size, standing tall on two feet. From its raised position, the Normal-Type Dynamax Pokemon fired an orange beam from its mouth that tore across the battlefield.
"Alright Snorlax! Now SLEEP!" Brock shouted up to the massive Pokemon.
Doing as it was told, Snorlax entered a slumber, falling back up against the Tree of Beginning. Sliding down to the base of it, when Snorlax's rear hit the ground it was enough to shake the battlefield. Ash's Dynamax Snorlax sat in an upright position with its back to the Tree of Beginning, completely plugging the entrance.
Author's Note- And thus ends the Battle at the Tree of Beginning arc! Now that our Team of Aura Guardian has entered the Tree of Beginning, what new dangers will lie in wait for them?
-Kid Arceus