The Final Battle: The Ascent of an Aura Guardian (Part 8)
Giovanni's Shadow Mewtwo threw its arms out to either side, letting out a high pitched shriek as Lycanroc charged across the field with a red tint in its eyes. Thrusting its left arm forwards, it sent a purple barrage of Psychic energy at the Lycanroc charging head on at it. The Wolf Pokemon quickly jumped to the right, avoiding the attack. Mewtwo fired another pulse of energy its way, but Lycanroc nimbly avoided that attack as well, still charging onwards. Baring its fangs, a large set of silver jaws manifested above the Pokemon as it leapt forwards, latching onto the Mega Pokemon's arm. Mewtwo thrashed around, in an attempt to make the cananie release its grip, however the Dusk Lycanroc would not budge. In order to free itself, the Mega Shadow Pokemon used its free arm to fire a Shadow Ball off into Lycanroc's face, making the Alolan Pokemon let go. Before it could go in to attack further, the Shadow Pokemon's attention was caught by the blue Aura bursting from the Pokeball Alexa had thrown out onto the field.
As a column of Aura erupted from the open sphere, the darkened figure of her Lucario could be seen from within. Suddenly, Lucario opened its eyes, as a white glow had overtaken them. Emerging from the Aura, Alexa's Lucario rushed across the field with two bonestaffs in hand. While it had three red scratches down either of its eyes, the white glow that had overtaken them allowed the Pokemon to read the room's Aura. From its perspective, it could see the black, shadowy figure of the Mega Pokemon just fine.
Seeing the incoming foe, a grimace came over the Mewtwo's face as it darted forwards at its oncoming opponent, forming a large black scythe within its hands. Leaping forwards, Lucario bared its teeth as it swung its two staffs forwards, connecting with Mewtwo's long weapon. Pushing against each other, Lucario and Mewtwo locked their glowing eyes. Lucario was the first to break apart, by flipping up over the Mewtwo. Dropping to the ground, Lucario could sense the Dark Aura of the incoming blade and ducked backwards to avoid the attack, which missed its nose by a few centimeters. Moving on towards Mewtwo, it struck the bulky right leg of the Mega Pokemon with each of its weapons. Buckling for a moment, Mewtwo clenched its teeth feeling the burning sensation brought on by Lucario's weapons against its shadowy body. Dropping its scythe, freeing its hands, the Mega Mewtwo X threw a clubbing fist which caught Lucario in the cheek forcing it down to the ground.
As the beast moved towards its opponent, Ash suddenly gave a shout. "Accelerock!" His Lycanroc, with swirling shards of rock around its body, rushed in and bashed Mewtwo across the right side of its ribs, sending it flying away from its target. "I can't let you and Lucario have all the fun!" Ash said, sharing a glance with his sister (whose eyes were radiating blue with Aura), exchanging a nod.
As Mewtwo rose back to an upright position, Giovanni gave his Mega its next command. "Mewtwo! Use Double Team!" The Shadow Pokemon obeyed, forming a small army of Mewtwo clones which began to circle around the Ketchum's two Pokemon.
'Get down!' Lucario said to Ash's Lycanroc, as it leaped into the circle. Lycanroc hunkered down low to the ground, as Lucario stood tall above the Wolf Pokemon, sending a rippling wave of Aura from its body. This maneuver eliminated the circling clones, however the Mega Shadow Mewtwo X was nowhere to be seen. Just as the Mega Mewtwo appeared over the heads of the two Pokemon, scythe in hand, Lucario sensed its presence and turned upwards, crossing its bone staffs up to intercept the oncoming attacker, which pushed down against it in return.
"STONE EDGE!" Ash commanded from his side of the field. Lycanroc drove its two paws into the field, ready to drive a large rock spire up from the ground beneath Lucario's feet. Feeling the shifting movements in the ground below, milliseconds before it broke through, Lucario quickly sidestepped with a twirl, causing Mewtwo to go face first into the jagged Stone Edge attack emerging from the ground.
"NO!" Giovanni shouted, as his Pokemon took the attack head on. Just as the tip of the stone made a scratch on the Mega Pokemon's face, its eyes glowed bright purple, causing the stone beneath it to shatter into many small rock fragments. The Mega Pokemon continued on, however, crashing to the ground.
Twisting its paws inward, Lycanroc made two more jagged rocks appear from the battlefield below, angling them so that the Shadow Pokemon would be pinned underneath them. With its stomach to the ground, arms pressed at either side, the Mega Shadow Pokemon was immobilized. Appearing in front of the Mewtwo's face, Alexa's Lucario stuck its two paws out before it, manifesting a ball of blue Aura in its palms.
As the burning blue light reflected off of Mewtwo's dark face, it clenched its teeth and teleported out from under the rocks it was buried under. Lucario was too late, firing its blast of Aura on the empty ground. Appearing in front of Giovanni, the Shadow Mega Mewtwo X panted heavily, narrowly escaping danger. As a green glow overtook its body so that it may regain some of its health, Lycanroc charged in its direction. From the opposite direction, Alexa's Lucario charged in at the Shadow Pokemon's blind spot.
"Lycanroc, use Rock Throw!" The battered Ash shouted out. Lycanroc once again manifested many small boulders to swirl around its mane. As it leapt into the air and snarled, it launched its projectiles forward at the evil Pokemon. As the first boulder was about to hit its target, Mewtwo began to swing its bulky fist forward to smash through it. Before it could, Lucario appeared behind it, clenching its teeth while choking the Pokemon across the neck with its blue bone staff. Forcing the Shadow Pokemon backwards, its torso was open to Lycanroc's Rock Throw. Thanks to Shadow Mewtwo outsizing Lucario, the latter remained protected from its ally's attack. After getting struck with several boulders, and a lack of oxygen due to Lucario choking it out, Mewtwo fell to its knees as Lucario held its grip.
"NOW MEWTWO!" Giovanni shouted with a growl.
As the light came back to the Shadow Pokemon's eyes, it reached its two arms up behind it, placing its hands on Lucario's temples. Firing a pulse of black Aura from its palms, Lucario became dazed as it faltered backwards, releasing the Mega Mewtwo. Spinning around and rising back up to its thick legs, the Mega Shadow Pokemon threw its fist forwards, clocking Lucario in the face with its right hand, forcing it to the ground.
"Lycanroc, use Crunch!" Ash exclaimed, seeing an opportunity. "Then Accelrock!"
Lycanroc, who was positioned behind Mewtwo, lunged forwards with a set of glowing jaws. Clamping down onto the large, black leg of Mewtwo, Lycanroc bit down onto the achilles of the Pokemon, sinking its teeth in and vigorously shaking its head. Releasing and hopping backwards, Lycanroc manifested many small rocks swirling around its body, as it darted forwards, striking Mewtwo in the back of its leg, forcing it onto the ground. From in front of Mewtwo, Alexa's Lucario rushed in with its bone staff drawn, cracking Mewtwo across its left cheek with the weapon. Then, jutting out one hand, it delivered a Force Palm to the opponent's face, which stunned it for a brief moment. Maneuvering behind its foe with its staff in hand again, Lucario restrained the Mega Shadow Pokemon once again.
Mewtwo began to rise off the ground, however, due to the bleeding gash around its left ankle, and the injury to the back of its knee, it crumpled to the ground. Unable to escape, the beast was being forcefully restrained by Lucario.
Throwing out his right hand with his black Z-Ring forwards, Ash called for Lucario, "This is our chance! Get out of there, Lucario!" Flexing his wrist up, the brown Lycaniun-Z embedded in the bracelet surged with orange energy, as Ash felt the spirit of Alola coursing through his veins. Shifting his legs and flexing his muscles, the energy from his Lycanium-Z (gifted by Tapu Koko) surged as an orange glow cloaked the trainer, before the energy jumped to his canine Pokemon. "LYCANROC! USE SPLINTERED STORMSHARDS!"
Lycanroc let out a howl, as a large pedestal of earth grew out from beneath its feet, carrying it up into the air just below the swirling Unown ceiling. Several of the golden pillars on the sides of the battlefield began to break into many pointed fragments, and swirled high above the battlefield around Lycanroc, and the Mewtwo who was still being choked out by Lucario. Finally letting go of its opponent, Lucario stuck out its two feet, going perpendicular to the Shadow Pokemon. Firing two pulses of Aura from its soles, Lucario simultaneously pushed Mewtwo forwards onto the ground, while propelling itself away from the Shadow Pokemon. Just in time, as Ash swung his arms forwards and clamped his hands together to launch the attack.
Lycanroc flipped forwards through the air, with a radiant glow over its body, as the intense red glow overtook its eyes once again. Snarling, the swirling pieces of rock pillar angled themselves forwards, pointing at the Shadow Pokemon who laid face down on the ground. One by one, the jagged pieces of rock began smashing into the back of Mewtwo, who let out a pained cry as it was buried under the attack.
"MEWTWO! NO!" Giovanni cried out, showing what appeared to be his first bit of concern throughout this entire battle. A brief purple glow overtook the Shadow Pokemon's eyes, before a massive explosion of orange energy erupted off of its body. Giovanni, along with Ash and Alexa threw their hands up to shield their faces from the massive attack, which left a cloud of fine dust obscuring the battlefield.
Ash fell to his knees, drained of his energy, as an overwhelming sadness came over his body. 'How could I do this?' Ash said as tears welled up in his eyes, and ran down his cheeks. 'Mewtwo was my friend… and I just-' Ash's thoughts, however, were interrupted by Alexa's Lucario letting out a growl. Darting into the dust cloud, holding its staff in two hands, it could clearly read the Aura of a Pokemon unseen to the trainers.
"What?!" Alexa exclaimed. "I thought that your move Z-Move would finish it off!"
Getting back up onto two legs, the battered Ash called forth to his Lycanroc. "ACCELEROCK!" His orange canine rushed towards the cloud as well, but halted in its tracks as soon as something from within pushed the cloud away. Revealing itself in the center of the field, clutching Lucario's throat in its right hand, was the smaller Mega Mewtwo Y. With orange horns made of glowing crystal, and a long orange tail from the back of its head, the Mega Pokemon hovered off the ground with a red glint in its eyes, and a green glow of a Recover coating its body. Standing far behind it, still present on the Immortal Battlegrounds was its master, Giovanni. Using its free hand, it cloaked Ash's Lycanroc in a purple glow as it raised it high into the air. Contorting the canid's body with its powers, Lycanroc's spine bent backwards, letting out a loud crunch, before getting thrown backwards to the ground before Ash. Lycanroc let out a pained whimper, before passing out, as its trainer looked on with horror in his eyes. Ash silently looked down at his fainted Alolan Pokemon, returning it to its ball.
With an evil grin on his face, the Rocket Leader chuckled to himself. "If you thought it would be that easy to defeat my Ultimate Weapon you are mistaken. The true power of this menace comes from its ability to alter between a physical attacker, or a mental specialist. Only its Y form could manifest a shield powerful enough to keep it from being eliminated!" Throwing Lucario forwards, the Aura Pokemon landed on two feet, but was soon cloaked by the same purple glow. Attempting to resist, Lucario gritted its teeth as a blue glow overtook its eyes. Channeling its own Aura, it worked to keep its body aligned, holding onto what little strength it had left. "Time is ticking, Ash!" Giovanni uttered. "You best throw out your last Pokemon… to ensure your sister's safety."
Ash grew angered at the thought of this, tightly gripping his final Pokeball. While he was uncertain if this Pokemon could take out the Shadow Mega Mewtwo Y on its own, if it was able to pull off its special ability, it just might come out on top. If it could initiate this ability that was so difficult to master, it just might keep his sister and her partner safe. Taking in a deep breath, Ash wound up and pitched the sphere onto the field, which whirled across the golden battlefield at an incredible speed. "INFERNAPE! I CHOOSE YOU!"
Infernape burst onto the battlefield, creating a monsoon of orange flame around itself. Giovanni's wretched Mega Mewtwo Y, shielded its face at the intensity of the heat, before needing to put up a reflective barrier to offer a line of defense, which diverted away its focus from Alexa's Lucario (dropping the Pokemon.) Rocketing forwards, with flame propelling it across the field, the monkey Pokemon jutted out a single fist, shattering Mewtwo's shield and socking it across the cheek, forcing the Shadow Pokemon backwards. As Infernape followed through with its fist, a thick glob of saliva was forced out of the Mega Pokemon's mouth. Getting rocked by the attack, the levitating Mega Pokemon was forced to the ground and landed with a thud. Using a single hand, the black-skinned Mewtwo reset its dislocated jaw back into place as it glared up at the Pokemon standing above it. With a flickering orange flame on its head, Infernape threw its head forwards, letting out a high pitched shriek to the evil Pokemon.
As the Mega Pokemon began to push up to hover back into the air, Infernape lunged forwards, wrapping its blue fingers around the neck of the Pokemon. Dragging it across the ground, Infernape clenched its teeth, staring into the glowing purple eyes of the Mega Pokemon. Pushing off and above it, Infernape leapt high into the air and swelled its chest. Pursing its lips, Infernape blew an intense Flamethrower onto the grounded Legendary Pokemon. Disappearing from the battlefield for a brief moment with a Teleport, the Shadow Mewtwo reappeared behind Infernape, firing a black orb of energy at the back of the Flame Pokemon. Infernape was struck, but hit the ground palms-first. Pushing forwards, Infernape flipped back onto its feet and spun around, glaring up at its enemy.
While distracted with the Sinnoh starter down on the ground, Mewtwo was unaware of Lucario down the field charging an Aura Sphere in its palms. Letting out a growl as it launched its projectile forwards, the blue orb rocketed off and struck the Mega Pokemon, hitting it in the left shoulder. Going up in a blue explosion, the Mega Pokemon showed a wince of pain as it clutched the spot where it was hit with its right arm. Then, leaping up into the air with the Mega Pokemon, Infernape set its two fists ablaze and it sent forth a blurred onslaught of punches. Infernape then changed its tactics, by igniting its body into a bright blue Flare Blitz. Launching itself forwards, the Flame Pokemon hit the Shadow Pokemon, then darted past it, landing back onto the field down below. Feeling the after effects of its own attack, blue electricity coursed over Infernape's body. The airborne Mega Pokemon then went up in an explosion, before dropping down to the battlefield in a heap.
"Way to go, Infernape!" Alexa cheered. "Now you go, Lucario! Use Force Palm!"
'On it!' The blinded Pokemon said, rushing towards its enemy. From its perspective, it could see the shadowy mass of black Aura lying prone on the battlefield suddenly begin to rise up into the air. Performing a spinning kick, Lucario's right foot came across the jaw of the upright Mega Pokemon. Dazing it for a moment, it was unable to protect its abdomen from a duel Force Palm. Getting blasted backwards off the battlefield, Mewtwo rocketed past Giovanni and into one of the few remaining pillars that had survived Lycanroc's Z-Move.
Giovanni spun around, witnessing his creation fall forwards onto the ground. With its torso smoking from the attack, its typical black skin where Lucario had hit its mark had shifted to a lighter grey, before going dark once again. "Argh- Recover!" Giovanni exclaimed.
Hearing its master's command, Mewtwo began to faintly glow green as it began to restore some of its health. Suddenly, from below it, Infernape burst up through the ground, forcing the Mega Pokemon up into the air before it could fully heal itself. While in mid air, Infernape stuck out two fingers, making an attempt to jab the Shadow Pokemon in the chest. Mewtwo, however, had a free hand, catching the Sinnoh Starter by the wrist. Shifting its momentum, the Mega Mewtwo Y gripped Infernape by the throat as it carried it up towards the Unown ceiling.
"Oh no!" Alexa exclaimed, watching this happen. Her Incineroar had gone down as a result of its strength being drained being buried beneath the Symbol Pokemon earlier on in the battle. Standing down on the field below, unable to reach them was her Lucario, who could only look on. 'I can't launch an attack! That could take out Infernape… and Ash!'
Infernape hit the ceiling back first, making waves of Unown pile over the Pokemon. Infernape gritted its teeth, feeling its strength being sapped away. Mewtwo looked into the blue irises of the starter before ripping it away from the Unown. Going limp in the hand of the corrupted Legendary, Mewtwo tossed Infernape before it and used its Psychic powers to stretch Infernape's limbs outwards, before pushing it down onto the golden battlefield below. Landing in a massive crater, Infernape laid open for Mewtwo's next attack.
As if the relative time on the Immortal Battlegrounds were slowing down around her, Alexa turned and saw her brother, calling out to his companion. "C'mon Infernape! I know we can unlock the Aura Blaze!... We need it to end Mewtwo!"
Hearing her brother utter these words, she could not believe that he was so willing to put down his former ally and partner. Had he forgotten who he was as a pure-hearted trainer? Was he fighting Giovanni for the wrong reasons? What had happened to rescuing the friend that was taken from them?
Raising its right hand into the air, black energy swirled around the hand of the Shadow Pokemon, who manifested a long black scythe into its hand. The orange tail that swayed from the back of its head glowed brightly, as it charged up its weapon to dish out a final strike to the Pokemon. Infernape, who had rolled over and went onto all fours, crumpled to the ground.
'Sacrifices must be made to ensure victory. It was destiny that brought us here on this day to stand and fight in order to save all of the other innocent lives across the cosmos. Who are we to let their freedom be snuffed out?'
Lucario's words from before echoed in the female trainer's mind as she took in a deep breath. 'We're not strong enough to face him… but Ash is…' The teen said as a tear rolled down her cheek. Throwing her hand outwards, the teen let out her command, just as she witnessed Mewtwo rocketing down towards Infernape with its blade drawn. "GO LUCARIO!"
Ash spun his head to the left, looking at the teen commanding her Pokemon, making his jaw dropped. Glancing back onto the field, he watched as the Aura Pokemon made a dash across the Immortal Battleground. Leaping forwards, Lucario put its body in between Infernape and Mewtwo, crossing its arms forming a blue barrier in front of itself. Mewtwo's weapon, however, cut through the Pokemon's barrier with an orange blade, dealing a large slash across the chest of the Aura Pokemon. Lucario's glowing eyes widened for a moment, as Infernape, who laid on the ground below, looked up to its rescuer with a look of shock on its face. Lucario slowly fell onto its knees, then fell face first onto the battlefield. Unable to continue any longer.
"NOOOOO!" Ash screamed, as he turned back to his sister, catching her just before her legs gave out. With a trembling hand, the teen pulled out her Lucario's ball and recalled it, all while Ash held the young Guardian in his arms. "Alexa… Why?" The Aura Guardian said as tears rolled down his face, as the Unown from above descended, beginning their spiral around the pair.
"I'm sorry Ash… But you're the chosen one who has to beat Giovanni," The teen said in a faint voice. "Just don't forget why we came here… to get Mewtwo back and save everyone."
"I'm sorry!" Ash cried, as his sister's body soon began to fade. "I should have-"
"It's alright. I knew the risk going into this battle," The young Guardian said faintly, as her body began to dissipate into small orbs of light from the feet up. "I'm not afraid anymore… I'll see you again." After those words, Ash's sibling had fully disappeared from his arms. With her body converted to an energy absorbed by the Unown, the Symbol Pokemon flew away, reentering their swirling pattern on the ceiling above.
Infernape and Mewtwo looked on at the battered Guardian, who remained silently kneeling on his side of the field. Alone. As a tear ran down Infernape's cheek, its sorrow soon shifted to rage as a red glow set into its eyes. Its normal Blaze Ability kicked it, making it spin around, to blow a white hot Flamethrower onto the pitch black Mega Mewtwo Y. Mewtwo countered by manifesting a purple shield in front of itself, followed by a simple flick of its wrist, which sent Infernape skidding across the battlefield in front of Ash.
"You're still here?" Giovanni called over to Ash, who had a dead look in his eyes as one of the most important people in his life had disappeared before his very eyes. "Why, it seems as if you've lost the will to continue. Sure would be a shame for you to-"
"SHUT UP!" Ash shouted, cutting off his vile opponent. Even Mewtwo looked on at the trainer in misery, opting not to finish off Infernape right away. "What has this all been for Giovanni?!" Ash yelled as tears began to roll down his face. Throwing his arms out to either side, Ash angrily shouted, "Why did you have to ruin my life?"
"Oh, you simpleton. You have yet to accept the fact that your destiny would give you the powers of a GOD! You are the Chosen One fated to meet Arceus! And that's something that I lust for!"
"With my mortal abilities alone, I have learned that destiny can be rewritten! I'll do whatever I must to take your place! It's too bad you're still here," Giovanni said with a smirk. "I would have hoped the Unown would have taken you off with the girl…" A look of rage came over Ash's face as this had struck a nerve with him. "No matter. I shall just finish you myself-"
"ENOUGH!" Ash shouted as a burst of Aura came off of Ash, rushing past Giovanni and his Shadow Mewtwo. "I'LL MAKE YOU FUCKING REGRET THAT!"
"Don't you see! It's over boy! You have lost!" Giovanni shouted, as his Mega Mewtwo hovered before him. "You're down to the very last Pokemon! When I had Mewtwo look into your mind so I could plan my team accordingly against you, I wasn't prepared for that roster to change on such a dime! However my Shadow Mewtwo has eliminated ALL FOES THAT HAVE STEPPED BEFORE IT! THIS PROVES THAT I HAVE CREATED A TRUE BEAST OF MALICE THAT CAN STOP ANYTHING!" Giovanni loudly roared. His Shadow Mega Mewtwo Y hovered in front of its trainer with a look of death in its eyes, glaring at its injured, yet enraged opponent standing before Ash. "Your Greninja couldn't save you. Your Lycanroc couldn't save you. Your Infernape will be no different. It's a shame that your sister's death- will be... in... vain."
"INFERNAPE! LET'S KILL THIS BASTARD!" Ash roared, as an intense red glow took over the Pokemon's eyes, making it enter an uncontrollable rage. Infernape was intent on dishing out payback for taking the life of Ash's younger sister. It was ready to kill.