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Pyrite Town
Lovrina.
He was to face Lovrina in the finals.
This hadn't been completely a shock. She was one of the best trainers in the competition. To be honest, chances were that even without the tournament they'd face each other again. Fate seemed to have a funny way of bringing them together.
But seeing the results of the second semi-final...seeing her standing triumphant before a cheering crowd (not as loud as his but still rather noticeable)...he needed some time to process it.
Are you going to be alright?
Michael looked up at Shadow Lugia, the Titan staring him in the eye. They had mindscaped again soon after learning who'd face them in the finals. Unsaid words seemed to fill the void as the memories flooded back. They both knew who Lovrina was. More importantly, they knew what she did.
"I...I don't know. I thought I would be but…"
You faced her before. You beat her before. I know you can do it again.
"I know that. It's just…" The teen gulped as he looked down. "I'm afraid of going ballistic, you know. Snapping."
You won't snap. And do you know why you're not going to snap?
He looked up at the legendary, taken aback by the rather confident tone in his voice.
You have your Pokemon who've stood by you through thick and thin. Your family will be watching. They won't be here, but you know for a fact they'll be supporting you. And...you have me. Trust in me like I've come to trust in you.
Michael didn't know what to say. Shadow Lugia had risen slightly, his chest filled with pride. The boy had to blink just to verify what he was seeing. It was like something had come over the Shadow Pokemon, filled with a strength he hadn't seen before. Any hint of the subdued servant was batted away as the great wings flexed as the legendary emphasized his words.
Some of that strength almost seemed to carry over to the trainer. His mind came at ease for the moment. Lugia was right. He hardly was alone in this fight.
As he thought that though...a realization hit his mind.
"What about you? Are you gonna be okay with me battling Lovrina?"
With that, the confidence faded as Shadow Lugia's shoulder sagged a bit, the wings lowered. His eyes darted back and forth for a moment as he thought up a response. Michael could almost feel the memories he had inadvertently drudged up.
I...I am not sure.
"Sorry. It's just...last time you faced each other you nearly-"
Yes. I know, the legendary said quickly. Michael knew how he felt. Lovrina wasn't just any other trainer he'd encountered after all. What was done...it simply couldn't fade with time.
Lugia narrowed his eyes as he clenched his jaw. You trusted me to be your partner. And you've vouched for me more than anyone. Do you believe I will be okay?
Michael sighed as he carefully considered his next words. Figured he'd use some of his mother's wisdom right now.
"You need to figure that out for yourself. Just know that no matter what happens...we'll be there."
Again, Lugia glanced away for a moment. Michael patiently waited. The titan looked up, looking like he wanted to say something-
-but a knock on the door echoed through the mindscape, catching both their attention.
The answer would have to wait later.
Michael rose, shaking the last of the trance out of his mind and hooking the Master Ball back onto his belt. He wasn't sure who'd come to visit him. Marcia never hinted at wanting an interview and he wasn't sure if Duking or Secc had any more to say. Willie or Cail maybe?
He opened the door…
...and was greeted by Lovrina.
His face pretty much fell right then and there. "What do you want?" he asked, failing to keep the venom out of his voice. Espeon had already taken his place at his side, eyeing the admin warily.
"I...is it possible we could talk?" she asked.
"About what?" Michael asked. Something about the match probably, but part of him was looking for any reason to slam the door in her face.
"It's about the match. But not here. I'd rather talk on the outskirts of Pyrite," Lovrina cautiously said.
"Yeah. Right into an ambush," Michael pointed out, his voice becoming clipped as his patience was running thin.
"Or we could stay here and risk anybody listening in to what we're discussing," Lovrina snarked. "Do you really think you're completely safe in a place like this?"
Michael was about to snap back...until he looked around at both his room and the hallway. The hotel certainly wasn't the most secure of places. And there was no telling who else was staying…
Still, he felt the urge to slam the door in her face. She still could be leading him into an ambu-
-he stopped himself. He wasn't sure why but…
...what the heck am I doing?
"Alright, fine. Let's talk."
Espeon blinked in surprise as Michael followed Lovrina out the room before trailing behind. They left the hotel and made their way through the streets, drawing several eyes along the way. Houndoom emerged from her Pokeball, her senses on high alert for any signs of trouble. And to act as a deterrent: a snarling Dark-type would give any trainer pause.
From his belt, Michael also opened Fearow's Pokeball, the raptor taking to the sky. Her eyes were already peeled, scanning the alleyways for any sign of an ambush, ready to give the call at the first sign of trouble.
Above all, Michael made sure the Master Ball was visible the whole way. It shone brilliantly, just to get the message across.
They walked to the edge of town, right where the red rock gives way to the sun-baked sand. Michael looked at his Pokemon. Fearow flew above but did not cry. Houndoom sniffed the air but didn't signal an alarm. Espeon's tail was still as the cat's gem remained dull. He didn't feel Gardevoir's ball budge, which would've indicated some deception on Lovrina's part. The teen sighed. "Alright. What do you want?"
Lovrina turned and stared him directly in the eye. Her reply was short and crisp.
"I want to face Shadow Lugia in the finals."
He had been expecting so many demands, but that wasn't one of them. Even the light from the Master Ball slightly dimmed, its occupant stunned by what had been asked.
"...you know you can't win against him," he said curtly. "If you want the glory-"
"It's not about the glory."
Again. Stunned silence. "Then...then what are you hoping to gain?" Michael then asked, now more curious than mad.
Lovrina paused. 'When...when I was at Gateon Port...when we fought Miror B. ...when your Salamence was fighting his Dragonite...he could've died. He could've died but he still kept on fighting. Didn't even look like he wanted to stop. But...there wasn't any light in his eyes. No joy from the violence. Just...nothing. I...I never saw that. And I can't get it out of my head. I've been looking over and over what I've done, trying to find the reason for why I did this but...I just can't.
"And...the rage that Shadow Lugia brought against me...that anger...I-I don't know what I was even trying to accomplish in the first place. I wanted Pokemon to be able to defend themselves in this harsh world but...they didn't even look alive."
Michael didn't say anything for a good while. He just stared at Lovrina with an impassive look on his face. The admin just stared back, waiting for what he had to say.
"...what about Delcatty?"
Lovrina blinked as she heard that name. "What?"
"Delcatty. Farfetch'd. Altaria. What about them?" Michael asked, each name a little harder than the last. "They were Shadow Pokemon under your care. That you fought with. Why didn't you have second thoughts when you fought with them?"
"I…" her voice trailed off as she realized the truth. "I...didn't know at the time."
"You didn't know? Or you didn't care?"
Her pupils shrunk as she saw Michael's eyes glow red, a dark aura surrounding him. "Did you just turn a blind eye because you thought what you were doing was right? What's right about turning Pokemon into fighting machines? To strip away everything that makes them just so they can fight a little harder? That's not living. That's being a slave.
"Or maybe, you had second thoughts when your pet project turned his fangs on you. Maybe since you had no idea what you did to him, you couldn't handle the awful truth this whole dang time until it came right after you with fangs bared. So I'm gonna ask you one more time. Why. Not. Earlier?"
The silence was all he needed for an answer.
He snorted as the red eyes and dark aura faded. "That's what I thought." Michael turned away, not wanting to deal with this anymore than he needed to.
"Then show me."
The teen turned around and looked Lovrina in the eye, only to recoil from seeing how hard they were. "What did you just say?"
"You said I turned a blind eye to my Shadow Pokemon. To Shadow Lugia," Lovrina stated, keeping her voice surprisingly level. "You're right. I did. And I turned away every time. But not this time." Her gaze hardened. "I won't turn away this time. . You said that I couldn't handle the truth. Well then, let me stare it right in the face.
"I didn't understand then. I want to understand now. And if I still can't...it only means I'm too far gone."
You already are, Michael nearly spat out. But her words stayed his tongue. Like it or not, something about what she said...well, "resonated" was too strong of a term. Nothing she said was gonna make him believe she even understood what she was saying. Just how utterly in denial she was if it took her this long to realize she may have done something unspeakable. He should've just told her to take a hike.
On the other hand...what would that change? Lovrina would still be Lovrina, Michael would win the tournament, and that would be that. Nothing would change if he just denied her request.
Then again, it wasn't his decision either.
He looked towards the Master Ball, the sphere dull with color as the darkness was withdrawn. The presence within was thinking to itself, obviously considering everything that had been said. They'd been listening the whole time after all and considering who Lovrina specified, it ultimately was their decision.
After a minute or two, the ball shook once.
Michael sighed as he looked Lovrina dead in the eye.
"He said yes. You'll face him in the finals tomorrow."
Lovrina nodded as she strode past him, stopping before she headed back into town. "No matter what happens in the arena...I'll accept the consequences."
"And I can't promise that you'll be walking out of the colosseum in one piece."
"...I can agree to that." And with that, Lovrina walked off, heading back into town.
Michael sighed. He felt drained as she strode off. His Pokemon gathered by his side for support, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
His mind only asked the Master Ball...why?
In response, the Pokeball shook once as Lugia inside noted something important. Something Michael nodded to as he realized it as well.
Not once did Lovrina call Lugia XD-001.
"Ladies and gentlemen...THIS IS YOUR MAIN EVENT!"
Duking looked on as the crowd held its breath. The day of the finals had come at last. And with it, the end of this year's Tournament of the Bandit Hero.
"We've seen some pretty intense fighting from each and every one of our trainers! Each battle fought harder than the last. We've had to say goodbye to some old friends while honoring the struggle each one brought to the table. Their battles have earned their place in the history books, and go down as some of the greatest bouts in our town's great history.
"But we've...we haven't seen nothing yet! Cause on this day, we crown this year's champion, and bestow the honor and glory of Wes upon the victor! A name to join his legacy in the line of Orre's legends!
"So! Without further ado...please welcome our trainers!"
He let the crowd go wild before he announced the first to arrive.
"Introducing first, she has a checkered past with a group that we pretty much all know by this point. A grim reminder of the fight we continue to wage in Orre's name. But today, we welcome her as a contestant, for she has fought well and hard to get here. And sometimes...heroes can come from the strangest of places. Give it up for Lovrina!"
Duking had to resist spitting that name out. If it were up to him he'd kick her out and have the runner up be here instead. But...the crowd did cheer as the girl came from the entrance to the arena and took her place. Though to be honest, the leader also heard a few loud boos from the audience as well.
Hopefully nothing but cheers would be heard by the end of this day.
"AND HER OPPONENT! He's saved this town before, and he's clawed his way up the rankings! He's stood against the Grandmaster and conquered the best that Cipher has to offer! You all know his name by now! Give it up for...MICHAEL!"
This time the crowd truly went wild as Michael strode out to the field, his eyes never wavering from Lovrina's. His calm demeanor masked the emotions bubbling up inside. The meditation practices from this morning kept him calm enough to take his place on the side of the arena.
They both locked eyes and knew...the fate of Pyrite hung in the balance.
Duking waited a minute for the pre-fight banter, some playful chitchat to psych the trainers up for the battle.
Nothing. Just hard stares and hands whipping to their belts.
From Lovrina's side, the familiar format of Wobbuffet appeared, striking a pose in a sort of salute. The other, a small turtle like Pokemon emerged from its red shell, peering at everyone with tiny black eyes upon a small yellow head. Shuckle curiously looked at Michael, awaiting his first Pokemon.
He didn't have to wait long. Michael sent out his first two Pokemon, Fearow and Houndoom leaping onto the field. Both of their muscles were already primed as they stared down the opposition. Houndoom peeled her lips back in a snarl while Fearow let out a shrill battle cry. Lovrina's Pokemon just waited for the battle to start.
"Houndoom, try to take that Wobbuffet out from a distance. That'll force her to use Mirror Move which won't work on you. Fearow, lay it in on Shuckle but be careful. Chances are they're gonna have a nasty trick or two up their sleeve." Both Pokemon acknowledged their trainer's advice as the seconds ticked down. Lovrina had already given her Pokemon theirs, so it was all up to the referee to make the call.
"Are both sides ready?"
Michael and Lovrina nodded as their Pokemon began to take their battle stances.
"THEN LET THE FINAL OF THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT BEGIN!"
Naturally, Fearow was the first to make her move. She snapped her wings, propelling her forward with talons stretched out towards their target. Shuckle quickly withdrew into his shell as the Aerial Ace landed. The raptor naturally snarled as she pecked furiously at the shell, but it withstood the Fury Attack and its occupant was safe.
Before she could continue the assault, a plume of purple smog erupted from the shell and right into her face. Fearow gagged as the Toxic infiltrated her mouth, inflicting her with poison.
As she struggled to regain her bearings, the shell suddenly rocketed off the ground, smashing into her chest. Shuckle emerged with his head and limbs quickly wrapping around the feathers of the stricken bird. Fearow cried out as the Wrap started to take the air out of her both figuratively, and very literally.
She clawed at her hitchhiker, but the Bug-type refused to let go. Between the Wrap and the poison, Fearow could already begin to feel her strength fade. And with Shuckle's position, she could launch an offensive directly. For the moment, she was in for a slow and ponderous slog.
Down below, a Fire Blast lept from Houndoom's maw, slamming right into Wobbuffet. The blazing inferno almost seemed to consume the Patient Pokemon it seemed so total. However, the flames became surrounded by what seemed to be a mystical energy, causing them to shift to a more violet color. At once, the purple fire swirled around Wobbuffet as the Mirror Coat sent it straight at Houndoom, engulfing it in the strange fire.
Only when the fires dissipated, Houndoom was left completely fine. She let a smirk creep up on her lips. As powerful as Mirror Coat was, it was a Psychic-type move. And Psychic-type moves had virtually no effect on Dark-types like herself.
Her smile fell as she felt a jabbing pain in her mind, causing her to involuntarily cringe. Houndoom attempted to conjure up the fire within her maw once more, but the pain was so much that she couldn't do it. She could hear Michael call out to her, asking what was wrong. But the Torment blocked every noise out. It blocked out Michael's cry of surprise when Houndoom rushed forward with fangs bared.
The dog clamped down on Wobbuffet hard with a Crunch. Such a powerful Dark move was made even more powerful with an advantage against Psychic-types.
Ironically, that made things worse.
Wobbuffet's tail stood up as Houndoom was tossed across the arena like a ragdoll. One could almost feel the vibrations from the Counter. As powerful as the Crunch was, Counter took all that strength and flung it back to its sender twice over. Said force smashed Houndoom into the hard earth and right at Michael's feet.
The trainer grimaced as Houndoom woozily got back up on her feet. Wobbuffets were notorious for their bulk, being able to tank even the toughest of attacks. In the right hands, they were more than a match for the strongest Pokemon. To the point that many official tournaments had banned their usage.
And that last hit packed a wallop from what he could see. That Crunch may have hurt for Wobbuffet, but it hurt a lot more for Houndoom. Her legs were already beginning to shake, struggling to keep her body up.
Wobbuffet struck a pose, placing her arm to her forward with an open smile and her tail wagging. Houndoom's eyes went wide as she could feel her muscles begin to move on their own once more. Michael saw it as well. Encore. A move that influences its target into performing the last attack once again, in this case, Crunch. And since the next move was easily predicted…
Michael had to think of something fast. Houndoom took quite a lot of damage with that last attack. He doubted she'd be able to survive a second one…
Suddenly, he saw Fearow struggling in the air...and he got an idea.
"FEAROW!"
The raptor's eyes were drawn to her trainer, before settling in on the charging Houndoom and the awaiting Wobbuffet.
She wasn't having much luck either. Shuckle's position and tough she'll protected him from the worst of her attacks. To make matters worse, he'd used Rest to regain some of his strength, essentially sleeping while still clinging in with Wrap. Between the tight embrace and the poison, Fearow was losing steam and fast.
The Wobbuffet though gave her an idea.
Furling her wings inward, she began to spin with her sharp beak aimed right at Wobbuffet for a Drill Peck. She also snapped her wings violently to give her more momentum, throwing in a Pursuit into the combo. If this was gonna work, she needed to muster all of her strength for this one strike.
Wobbuffet's body was thrown back violently from the attack, the impact vibrating through her body. The force was tremendous...but not as powerful as the coming Counter. The energy was redirected and amplified as Wobbuffet smashed her arms right into Fearow, sending them crashing into the ground.
Fearow could feel the unconsciousness begin to claim her as she hit the ground. There was no way she could survive a powerful Counter in her weakened state.
Then again...she wasn't the only one to have taken the full brunt of the attack.
Shuckle plopped off her chest and rolled on the ground, with limbs spread out and spirals in his eyes.
The last thing Fearow heard before blacking out was Duking calling for a double knockout and the rapturous roar of the audience.
Wobbuffet freaked out a little at having her Counter being set off prematurely. Especially when she just knocked out her own teammate.
And particularly with a furious Houndoom bearing down on her.
She tried to set up another Counter but it was too late. Houndoom Crunched down on the Psychic-type and drove her straight to the ground. The dog leapt back to avoid a Counter just in case, but it wasn't necessary in this case. Tough as Wobbuffet was, even she couldn't take so many super effective moves in such a short span of time before getting beaten down.
Spirals appeared in Wobbuffet's eyes as Duking announced. "Wobbuffet is unable to battle! The score is 2-1 in favor of Michael!"
The two didn't exchange banter however. They just recalled their fainted Pokemon and reached to their belts for fresh ones. From Michael's side came Gardevoir, who did a quick curtsy but kept her eyes hard at Lovrina.
From Lovrina came the ghost like Misdreavus, who hovered in mid air eyeing the opposition. To his left, a rather large and rotund pink Pokemon emerged with curly hair and what looked to be an egg pouch on her belly. The Blissey gave a quick dance before settling into her battle stance.
"Houndoom, focus on Misdreavus. Do what you can but don't hurt yourself out there. Just soften them up. Gardevoir, you're in charge of Blissey. Hit her with everything you got." Gardevoir was already ahead of her trainer as she focused on her inner xen with Calm Mind. Houndoom simply snarled as she rushed forward.
With the Encore still embedded in her mind, Houndoom could do little but go on the assault with Crunch. It suited the Dark-type just fine as she snarled at the ghost. She lunged forward with fangs barred, but Misdreavous managed to dance just out of her reach. The gems on Misdreavus glowed bright red, blinding the hound momentarily.
Houndoom snarled as she tried to shake her mind clear from the Confuse Ray. All the sounds and colors blurred together as she began to snap at pretty much everything. Her teeth found only air as she began to trip over herself in the mad dash to take Misdreavus down. Not helping matters was that a barrage of Shadow Balls slammed into her, forcing her to the ground. The attacks didn't hurt much, but such an unrelenting offensive took its toll.
She calmed herself down as she began to focus her senses. At the first twinge of her nose…
The Dark-type lashed out, grabbing Misdreavus in a Crunch. Shaking him like a ragdoll for a moment, Houndoom tossed him to the earth, the ghost bouncing off as she managed to quickly get back into mid-air.
With the threat tossed away, Houndoom collapsed into a heap. She tested her muscles for a moment, but between the earlier barrage and the fight with Wobbuffet, she was fairly confident she couldn't last much longer. Her mindset, she stayed down, allowing Duking to count her out of the match.
"Misdreavus and Lovrina tie it up with 2-2!"
Gardevoir heard the call, but right now her hands were filled. Right before the melee began, she used Future Sight to foresee an attack. Even since then, she'd been laying attack after attack on Blissey, at the very least hoping to soften the Happiness Pokemon up. But she just kept coming. Every attack she just powered through, forcing Gardevoir on the back foot to avoid or block some strike. Either she was a glutton for punishment, or she really was that tough. The maiden wasn't sure which.
She danced her way out of a wildly thrown Pound and pushed forth a quick Confusion. Using the opening she made, Gardevoir leapt backwards to gain some distance. Getting worked up wasn't going to help her in any way. A clear mind was what she needed, to focus her power and strengthen her defenses. The empath closed her eyes and slowed her breath, feeling the rhythm of her heartbeat and the energy of her mind.
Her eyes opened up as they felt something else.
Misdreavus was readying a Shadow Ball, dragging dark energies to form an orb in front of him. Gardevoir already reached out with her hand and mind, ready to form a Light Screen at a moment's notice…
A DragonBreath from out of nowhere forced Misdreavus to veer to the side, causing him to fire the dark orb prematurely and fizzle into nothing. Salamence swooped in between Gardevoir and the ghost, roaring in fury to psych himself up with Dragon Dance.
Gardevoir nodded to her companion as she blocked a Pound from Blissey with a small Reflect on her forearm, before blasting the pink one away with a particularly powerful Psychic. The ovoid being rolled herself up from the dirt, shaking the dirt off, but the way she staggered to her feet indicated to Gardevoir that she felt that last one.
The odds had evened up.
Salamence roared as he lunged at Misdreavus, just missing his spectral opponent with his teeth. Houndoom managed to weaken the ghost a bit, so it shouldn't be too difficult to knock him out with a good strike.
Problem was, trying to hit a creature that's practically hovering between the border of this world and the next is more difficult than on paper.
The dragon made another lunge with his claws at the ready for a Dragon Claw, but Misdreavus managed to bob out of the way at the last minute before letting forth an ear-splitting cry given power with Astonish. Salamence flinched from the sheer force of the cry, cringing as his eardrums came under assault.
He shook his head, trying to get the ringing out of his ears. Which left him wide open for Misdreavus to shine his jewels in another Confuse Ray, causing his head to spin from the attack. Salamence snarled as he tried to clear his head, but in his confused state, he wasn't able to defend himself from a pair of Shadow Balls to the torso.
Roaring with rage, Salamence lunged forward with a Dragon Claw, but he wasn't able to connect his attack, going wide past the ghost. With his flank wide open, Misdreavus was able to land one more Shadow Ball right in the thigh, causing him to stumble to the ground.
Seeing his Pokemon in trouble, Michael rushed to the dragon's side. "Salamence! Try to focus on my voice!"
The dragon took a deep breath as he did indeed focus on his partner's voice. Getting angry wasn't getting him anywhere, especially if he can't even see straight. If he could hone in his senses for just a moment…
He felt a shadow hover right behind him, preparing a Shadow Ball right at the back of his head.
THERE!
With a mighty roar, Salamence whipped around to slam a Dragon Claw right in Misreavus's face before slamming him into the ground. He tossed the ghost away with frustration, snarling as he eyed her warily. There was no telling with these types.
Indeed, Misdreavus managed to float himself into midair...only to collapse onto the earth, defeated.
"Misdreavus is unable to battle! Michael takes the lead!"
Meanwhile, Gardevoir unleashed another Psychic against her opponent. Blissey took the attack, but she was staggering more than usual. The fight was clearly starting to take its toll. Gardevoir took a few hits to be certain, but she managed to avoid the worst of the blows and was in pretty good condition. Her mind was a little frazzled from so many psychic attacks, but she also made sure to give herself some breathing room to collect herself. All in all, she was winning the war of endurance.
Blissey looked somewhat miffed for a moment as the empath took a moment to collect herself. Then, she started humming a rather innocuous tune.
Gardevoir's eyes suddenly started to become...a little droopy. The realization hit her harder than the tune did. Sing. A harmonic set of notes which when properly utilized, can put even the wildest of Pokemon to sleep. Great for working around violent Pokemon...not so great when you're on the receiving end of one in a pitched battle. Already her mind started to become cloudy as the song droned on. Her eyelids began to shut involuntarily as she began to drift off…
Of course she woke up the minute she was picked up, grabbed by the smiling Blissey, before her captor dramatically leapt into the air and slammed her into the ground with Seismic Toss. A small crater formed where Gardevoir hit the ground, the maiden woozily picking herself up from the dirt. Psychic-type or not, that move hurt. And she took it head on with no way to defend herself.
To make matters worse, her eyelids started to close again. Even if sleep didn't actually make you fall asleep, it left you sluggish and in a state where you couldn't defend yourself. You could see the blow coming but you just didn't feel up to countering it.
And already, Blissey was charging forward, her smiling face heralding another possible Seismic Toss…
Salamence proceeded to slam a Dragon Claw right in Blissey's face, before forcing her away with a DragonBreath. Snarling, he lashed out with another Dragon Claw, raking his talons across her pink hide. The force from the attack rippled across her body...before vibrated back into her arms as she batted the wyrm away with a Counter.
Salamence found himself flung into the air, stopping his momentum by spreading his wings. That last attack took a lot out of him, but he reckoned that one last assault should-
-his thoughts were abruptly cut as a Hyper Beam from out of nowhere blindsided him, knocking the drake out of the sky.
He crashed hard onto the ground, the sudden strike leaving him dazed. Salamence wasn't even able to see the Pokemon who walloped him before blacking out.
"Salamence has been knocked out! It's now tied 3-3!"
It happened so fast that Gardevoir couldn't see who knocked her companion out before Blissey came at her with another Pound. She jumped backwards, putting some distance between herself and the pink Pokemon. Salamence's distraction allowed her to shake herself awake and formulate the next step of her strategy. Concentrating, she could feel her senses beginning to tingle with a sort of incoming energy. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized the source, before closing her eyes. She needed to time it just right…
Blissey bounded forward, making ready for a Double Edge.
NOW!
Gardevoir unleashed a powerful Psychic attack at the charging Pokemon. At the same time, a huge wave of energy crashed right into Blissey from seemingly nowhere. The Future Sight. Between Future Sight and Psychic, the Pokemon just took a huge amount of force and was sent flying from the sheer might. The air almost became mystically charged from the combo as Blissey smashed into the ground out cold.
Duking could easily see it was a knockout, with the crowd roaring with approval at the stunning display.
The maiden let out a sigh of relief. Now all she has to worry about-
-she suddenly found herself wrapped in a tight embrace, with yellowish coils embracing her in a tight Wrap. Looking upwards, Gardevoir stared straight into the crimson eyes of Milotic, the Tender Pokemon. She must've been the one that knocked out her companion.
After virtually squeezing the air out of her lungs, Gardevoir was flung by the serpent's coils. She managed to offset her toss by digging her heels into the dirt, only to be blasted down to the earth with a Hydro Pump. She didn't even have time to throw up a defense before the massive gush of water slammed her hard into the ground.
Gardevoir woozily picked herself back up, drenched by the attack. Taken off guard and hit point-blank range by such an attack can take a lot out of the toughest Pokemon. And she'd already been bruised up a bit earlier. Her eyes wandered to Michael's, who was already fishing out his next Pokeball.
His eyes suddenly widened as he screamed, "GARDEVOIR! BEHIND YOU!"
Looking behind her, her pupils shrunk as she saw a massive orb of green light coalescing around the now familiar figure of Lovrina's Meganium. Her petals were flush with bioluminescence as the power continued to build up.
The Psychic-type only had a split second to conjure up a shield with Light Screen before the Solar Beam was fired.
A brilliant beam of green light, the Solar Beam smashed against her shield, the force alone pushing her backwards despite her efforts. She grimaced as the beam intensified, her Light Screen just barely holding back the attack. At this point it was less blocking an attack and more survival.
Eventually, though, she was blown back as the shield buckled. The force of the Solar Beam alone was enough to send her skittering to the earth, even if it wasn't a direct hit.
Meganium and Milotic stood side by side, with Lovrina watching over them. Gardevoir clambered back onto her feet, looking at them both. She tried to hold it together, but the blows sustained from earlier were beginning to take their toll. Her energy spent, Gardevoir knelt down in defeat.
"Gardevoir has been knocked out! We're now in Sudden Death ladies and gentlemen!"
The crowd went wild with the announcement, unable to relax due to the fast-paced nature of the battle. Michael couldn't believe it either as he recalled Gardevoir. More than half of his team had been knocked out, and he still had to contend with Lovrina's last two Pokemon. And just a cursory look at them was enough to tell the teen that these were going to be quite a hurdle to overcome.
No. He couldn't have doubts now. Not when there's so much at stake.
He whipped out his second to last Pokeball. Michael took a longing look at it before tossing it onto the field. From it leapt forth Espeon, the psychic cat glaring at his opponents with the hair on his back raised. Compared to the two larger Pokemon, he looked positively tiny. But his psychic power was already emanating, doing its best to fill the void.
Lovrina didn't say anything. Her eyes were drawn right to Michael's belt.
The Master Ball.
Michael could feel the energy from the stadium begin to drain, the enthusiasm for once beginning to die down as he unhooked the purple Pokeball. Within, he could feel the dark energies swirl, yearning to be set free.
He wasn't sure if he should do this. Not after last time…
But there was no room for doubt now. It was clear that this was going to happen sooner or later. To turn back now would accomplish nothing.
No...they'll see this through to the end. Together.
Michael clicked the button to the Master Ball.
As before, the shadows spilled out of the Pokeball, forming and twisting to coalesce in the massive form of its occupant. Great black wings spread forth as a pair of red eyes glowed with power. A shrill cry filled the arena, heralding the Pokemon's arrival.
For at last, Shadow Lugia had come.
The crowd went mad with both excitement and fear, not expecting to see the ultimate Shadow Pokemon to arrive on the scene. Duking gave a concerned look, but Michael gave a reassuring gesture. He'd been with the legendary long enough to know that Lugia didn't want to hurt any innocents today.
No, his attention was drawn to Lovrina.
Shadow Lugia and the head of Cipher's Research Division locked eyes. Memories bubbled up to the surface. Lovrina didn't know how to react honestly. She'd envisioned this moment for such a long time that to be there in the flesh was...dizzying.
And those eyes...they seemed to burn right into her soul. Just as she remembered from that day.
Lovrina took a deep breath to calm herself. No turning back this time.
Espeon and Lugia. Meganium and Milotic. One could almost cut the tension in the air with a knife. The two sides stared the other down, awaiting their first orders.
"Espeon, stick with Lugia. Cover him as he takes them on, maybe try to separate the two to make them easier targets. Lugia...do what you do best. Just try to check yourself out there since we've got a lot of civilians that I don't want to see get hurt." The two Psychic-types acknowledged Michael's strategy. It was simple, but it was easy enough to follow.
The air hung still, the crowd silent, awaiting who would make the first move.
Espeon's tail suddenly twitched in a direction to the side. Michael looked confused as he looked where the tail was pointing. It seemed to be in the direction of the thrones…
His thoughts were broken as Shadow Lugia made the first move. The great legendary clapped his wings together and unleashed a Shadow Storm, a massive wave of darkness that raged across the battlefield. Milotic dodged to the side, her body carrying her out of harm's way as the tempest surged past. Meganium on the other hand stood her ground, her petals glowing as they released a shield of pollen in the form of a Light Screen. The shadows washed over the flora defense, the Grass-type straining from the force of the slam.
Grimacing, she loosened her petals and flung forth several razor-sharp leaves. The Razor Leaves sliced through the air, striking Lugia right in the face. He reared up to avoid the worst of the damage, leaving his body exposed. Milotic snaked forward as she expelled a great volume of water from her maw in the form of a Hydro Pump, slamming into the legendary's undefended chest.
Meganium maneuvered herself to the titan's side, hoping to get an angle on his unguarded flank. A movement to her left quickly drew her attention. She quickly lashed out with one of her vines, trying to trip up the oncoming threat. But Espeon was easily able to leap over the thrashing vine, quickly throwing his body against the much larger Pokemon for a Quick Attack.
He then quickly leapt backward, avoiding a heavy foot from flattening him with Body Slam. Espeon backpedaled, his muscles warming up with Agility, and his forehead gem already building up power. The Sun Pokemon unleashed a dazzling force of pure light with Psychic, forcing Meganium back aways.
As long as he can keep Meganium distracted, Espeon should be able to give Lugia some more time to work on the isolated Milotic.
And work on her he did. Shadow Lugia rushed forward with wings spread and fangs bared, the ground trembling under his might. Milotic once again dove to the side, managing to dodge a bite from the corrupted guardian. Whipping around with the upper half of her body, the serpent quickly sprayed another geyser of water in the legendary's face. It wasn't as powerful as Hydro Pump, but the Water Pulse was quicker on the draw and did the more effective job of temporarily blinding the beast.
With Lugia blinded for the moment, Milotic rapidly snaked her way around his neck, embracing it within a Wrap. The legendary was mighty, but keeping up a relentless assault was her best shot at taking him down. And right now, she was readying a Hyper Beam right in Lugia's face, the energy already coalescing in front of her maw…
Shadow Lugia roared with rage at the hitchhiker, slamming his neck into the ground to dislodge the irritant. Milotic tried to hang on, but the force of the slams caused her to slacken her grip and dangle her upper torso in mid-air. Lugia shook the waters of his face, restoring his vision and allowing him to see indeed that the Tender Pokemon was hanging on by a thread. Snarling, he batted the Water-type off with a swing of his massive wing, dark energy exploding and sending her to the ground with Shadow Break. The Hyper Beam was fired off harmlessly into the air, the energy disappearing into the sky.
The legendary swung his other massive wing around, smashing it right in Milotic with a Shadow Rush. She was sent straight to the ground, her energy spent from the misfired Hyper Beam.
Seeing her partner was in trouble, Meganium quickly whipped out a Vine Whip, tripping up Espeon while she turned and charged at the titan. The sauropod threw her 100 kilograms of weight into a Body Slam right at Shadow Lugia's leg. It wasn't enough to knock him over, but it certainly was enough to cause him to stumble.
Lugia quickly snapped his head around and fired a Shadow Blast, the dark energies erupting in a cascade of corrupted power. Meganium once again stood her ground, her petals glowing brightly with bioluminescence. This time the pollen formed an even thicker shield around her, encasing the Herb Pokemon in an impenetrable Protect. Once more shadow clashed against the power of nature, but this time even the might of the dark titan was unable to overcome her defenses, petering out.
Milotic slithered forward as the Shadow Blast faded, a Hydro Pump all ready to fire…
...only to be blindsided herself by a Psychic from Espeon.
The cat pounced forward, slamming right into the surprised Milotic's face with a Quick Attack, staggering her. Bouncing himself off of the larger snake, Espeon then dashed towards Meganium with a number of stars already conjured up with Swift. The energized constructs were flung with great velocity. Meganium lashed out with a Vine Whip to block some of the projectiles, but some of them did find their mark.
Now thoroughly enraged, Meganium reared up to crush the cat under her weight with Body Slam. But Espeon managed to nimbly dodge the heavy feet to the side, his muscles limber thanks to Agility. The Grass-type attempted to trip up him again using Vine Whip, maybe to pin him down so she can properly smash him with Body Slam this time, but she found herself batted away by a large black wing from Shadow Lugia. For once the heavy Pokemon was sent airborne from the impact of Shadow Rush.
Milotic fired a Hydro Pump at the retreating Espeon, hoping to knock him out of the battle once and for all. Before the heavy stream of water smashed into the cat, however, a wall of pure darkness rose between the Sun Pokemon and the attack. A Shadow Lightscreen had been brought up by Lugia, giving Espeon enough time to duck right beside the giant's leg.
Lugia lowered his head towards his partner, giving a quick bark to ask if his partner was alright. Espeon nodded, a few bruises but otherwise alright.
Lovrina looked with surprise at the gesture. She hadn't designed XD-001 with the intent to protect. It was meant to be nothing more but a fighting machine, unclouded by emotion or sympathy.
But she didn't see a weapon there. She only saw a Pokemon, showing concern for his comrade. Was...was this really the same XD-001 she helped to create all that time ago?
Or was it always there all along? And she just couldn't see it? Or...didn't want to see?
That's what she wanted to find out.
"MEGANIUM! MILOTIC! GIVE THEM THE COUP DE GRACE!"
Upon hearing their trainer's command, Meganium and Milotic stood side by side. The Grass-types petals glowed once again with bioluminescence as power was built up, as Miltoic was beginning to gather energy within her maw…
"Espeon! Give Lugia a Helping Hand! Let's finish this battle once and for all!"
Shadow Lugia lowered his tail, allowing Espeon to run up his tail, down his back, and right onto his neck. A bright light shined forth from the nekomata's gem as he channeled power to the legendary with Helping Hand. Lugia could feel the energy flowing through his veins, the light infusing with the shadow. It brought a warmth to his soul as he brought the boon forth within his own maw, beginning to form a Shadow Blast.
Espeon didn't stop there though. He leaned forward next to Shadow Lugia's face, his forehead gem shining brightly. The Shadow Pokemon wouldn't be fighting alone in this struggle.
Michael could feel the energies at play here. The power of his Pokemon giving their all in this final effort. In a way, they were almost opposites. Light and dark. Sunlight and shadow. Alone they were strong. But together...they were almost unbeatable.
At that moment...Michael couldn't feel more proud.
And yet...he felt something else.
A presence.
He glanced towards the thrones, the ones reserved for the heroes of Orre.
And for the briefest moment...he thought he saw a boy and a girl sitting in them, watching the battle.
Before he took full notice, Meganium and Milotic unleashed the fury of their attacks, Solar Beam and Hyper Beam. At the same time, Shadow Lugia and Espeon unleashed their payload as well, Shadow Blast and Return. The two beams met the blasts of light and darkness within the middle of the field with a thunderous crash.
One could practically taste the power being thrown around, and for a moment, neither side had the upper hand. Inevitably though, the powers of light and dark overcame the other and gradually began to push them back. Meganium and Milotic paled, already beginning to accept the inevitable.
BOOM!
A plume of smoke erupted on Lovrina's side of the field, obscuring the view. Espeon leaped off Lugia's nape and eyed the other side. Both of them waited for the dust to clear. All eyes were drawn to the field, everyone holding their breath.
The dust cleared...they could see Meganium and Milotic both on the ground.
Out cold.
Duking made the call.
"MEGANIUM AND MILOTIC HAVE BEEN DEFEATED! WE HAVE A WINNER FOR THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT OF THE BANDIT HERO!"
The crowd exploded with enthusiasm, everybody cheering Michael's victory. Marcia and Cameran were ecstatic from the sidelines while Duking couldn't help but have a massive grin on his face.
Today, a massive blow against Cipher was won.
Michael felt like he was in a dream. His dad had always told him stories about the Bandit Hero and his exploits, but standing in the same position he did all those years ago, honoring his triumphs like this and defying Cipher like he did...this was unreal.
He knew then that this was what winning the tournament meant.
It was to carry on a legacy.
The triumph however quickly evaporated when Shadow Lugia made his move.
Without warning, the Shadow Pokemon stalked over to Lovrina, his massive shadow falling over the girl. His claws raked the floor, causing everyone to hold their breath.
Lovrina tripped over herself as she backed away, unable to look away from those hateful eyes. Her breath came out fast and hurried, out of control as the beast loomed over her.
Lugia loomed over the one who tormented him, the one who conditioned him. His clawed foot coming to rest right beside her chest, his glare never wavering.
He began to take a deep breath…
Michael rushed forward, but he knew it was a useless gesture. He'd been afraid of something like this from happening, but the distance between them was too great.
The Cipher admin's eyes remained wide open, her face practically the picture of fear. Lovrina clutched the ground as Lugia reared his head and his maw began to open. She could practically see her doom from down his throat.
But it never came.
Instead of a Shadow Blast, an ear piercing shriek came forth as Shadow Lugia cried right in her face.
The shrill cry made everyone silent. It seemed to go on forever. They weren't sure what made them silent. The sound itself, or the implications of it. The amount of pain and anguish channeled into that Arceus forsaken sound. It chilled them right down to the soul.
And as soon as it started...it was over. Shadow Lugia lifted his head and backed away, giving Lovrina enough room to clamber up to her feet. Her face was bone white, her eyes unfocused. But his eyes...they never left. They just pierced through her soul.
Growling, he motioned his head to the exit of the colosseum. Lovrina stood dumbfounded for a moment, not knowing what to do. Luckily for her, her muscles moved before her mind, taking her out the exit, out of the arena, all with that horrified look on her face.
Shadow Lugia never wavered in his gaze. He simply watched as she left the arena. Michael and Espeon walked to his side, unsure of what to say. His trainer simply put a comforting hand on his leg, rubbing him down. The legendary nodded back with appreciation, before looking back at the retreating form of the former Cipher admin.
A thought came up to Michael's mind, causing him to look back at the thrones.
They were empty.
He blinked. Did he see a mirage earlier or…?
Duking walked up to Michael and his Pokemon. "Kid...could I talk to you for a second?"
Michael shook himself back to reality. "I-I'm sorry Duking! I didn-"
"It's not that," Duking reassured him, almost reading his mind.
"It's that...someone wants to talk with you."
It was her.
It was her all along.
Those words kept ringing through Lovrina's head as she walked through the town in a daze. She was drawing some stares but she didn't notice.
All she did...was focus on what she had done.
Lovrina thought she was helping them, making them strong. In reality though...she was turning them into monsters.
No. That wasn't right. Buried deep down there was still a fragment of the old Pokemon chained by the locks she'd put there.
There was a monster there...and it wasn't them.
She stopped in the middle of the street as the full weight of her sins came crashing on her all at once. Lovrina...didn't know what to think. All she knew was...how horrible she was. There were no excuses. No mask she could hide behind to shield her from the truth. If her family knew what she'd become...if her father knew what she'd become…
Lovrina looked around at the surrounding townspeople. The hard looks, the sneers. They knew who she was, what she did.
And she knew...this was all made by her hand.
The former Cipher Admin collapsed into the dirt. Tears welled up behind her eyes but they refused to flow. For what tears would be spilled over somebody like her.
A pair of footsteps came up to her.
"You...you know you can still try to set things right."
Lovrina looked up. He had a young-looking face, blonde hair, and a kind smile. Kinder than she deserved. "You don't know what you're talking about," she said, turning away. "What I did...was inexcusable. Nothing I do will possibly come even close to making up for what I did. I...maybe I should just turn myself in. There's no place for me anywhere anymore."
The kid didn't say anything, just took a knee in the dirt with her. "Maybe...you did hurt a lot of Pokemon...but maybe you can do some more good before going behind bars."
"Didn't you hear what I just said?!" she hissed in frustration.
"I did," the teen said. "And yeah, maybe you can't completely atone for what you did...but it wouldn't help to start."
She didn't know what to say to that. The answer was obvious. Prison was where she belonged, right with the worst the world had to offer. Right with Snattle, Gorrigan, and the Cipher leaders of old. It was best for everyone.
And yet...who was she to decide how to pay her debt?
Lovrina turned with a broken face and a broken spirit to the kind soul. "Where did you have in mind?"
Outskirts of Pyrite Town
Michael drove to the location on his bike, Espeon sitting by his side. The sun was setting on a very long day, and the stars were beginning to shine in the twilight sky. In the vast desert, it was a beautiful sight. Sometimes it never occurred to him that such a view could exist in a barren wasteland such as Orre.
Suddenly, he saw the ruins. Regal pillars of stone and marble standing defiant in the swirling sands. Michael knew that there was an Orre long before the war. A past all but obliterated aside from a few pockets.
He parked his bike and got off to admire the pillars, with Espeon by his side.
"Magnificent aren't they?"
Michael and Espeon turned towards the voice, but they saw no one out in the sands. Quite frankly, it could've come from anywhere given the pillars and the wind.
"Standing defiant in the face of adversity. The winds have stripped them of all color and life. And yet still they stand, even with not a soul coming to see them. Even in ruin, they have something to prove."
"Or it could be a testament to what they once were," Michael replied. He didn't feel any hostility from the voice, but he was still on edge. "What they really stood for."
"Funny how things like that change over the ages. Time is a harsh mistress, but some things still remain," the voice said back. It sounded weathered and experienced, but with a tinge of youth behind them. Michael couldn't tell how he knew. He just...did.
"I've heard a lot about you. How you've been taking the fight to Cipher. Tell me, how did a kid like you get wrapped up in a conflict like this? It couldn't have just been after they kidnapped Prof. Krane. Something had to keep you going."
Michael exchanged looks with Espeon. That awful day still lingered fresh in their minds. "A Teddiursa," the teen answered. "That was the first Shadow Pokemon I snagged. He seemed so...scared. So pent up. Like he'd been through so much. And yet they were so young. Whatever they did, I knew that no Pokemon had to go through that."
He felt the hair on his hand suddenly stand up. Espeon called out, and Michael looked where the cat was gesturing.
In the sky was the now familiar form of Zapdos, Titan of Lightning. He was hovering in the air.
And below him...was the unmistakable shape of Raikou, Beast of the First Bolt. The large creature stared at them, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight and static dancing upon their edges. His tail, a jagged lightning bolt that twitched occasionally.
"Even still, Shadow Pokemon aren't exactly that easy to handle. They've been known to hurt and even maim their trainers in their fits of rage. Most people would've given up. But not you. Why didn't you give in?"
Michael grimaced at the voice. The answer was obvious. "They were still Pokemon. Living creatures with wills of their own. They never chose to become what they were. To turn my back on them is the worst thing a trainer could ever do. I wanted to work with them. To care for them. They deserved a chance."
A shadow passed over him, cinders falling from the sky. Looking up, Michael could see Moltres, soaring above him. The Titan of Fire's flames burned brilliantly in the dying light of the day.
The phoenix passed over a spot in the sands...where Entei, the Beast of the Consuming Flames stood. He looked over Michael and Espeon, embers coming from his maw and the smokey mane billowing from his back. The very earth seared where he stepped.
A chuckle was heard in the winds. "That is impressive. Never thought I'd come across someone so caring. To see through the darkness and glimpse the light within. Even when the darkness is so...impenetrable."
Michael felt the Master Ball on his side shook.
"I've never seen a Shadow Pokemon like him before," the voice said, clearly directed to the shaking Pokeball. "Cipher really did outdo themselves this time. They said he couldn't be saved. That his soul was too far gone. Yet seeing you in the arena...how did you do it?"
The answer was an easy one. "Because Lugia is my friend. And friends don't turn their backs on one another. I never gave up on him. That's all."
A sudden breeze chilled his skin, coming on top of one of the arches. Looking up, Michael saw the perched form of Articuno, the Titan of Ice with mist cascading down his wings.
Beside him, sat Suicune, Beast of the Soothing Rain. His crimson eyes stared right into the boy's heart, the purple mane flowing in the wind surrounding him.
All three of the Sacred Beasts were here. In Orre, that meant only one thing…
"No wonder you beat Cipher. With an attitude like that, they don't stand a chance," the voice said.
Espeon's tail twitched, causing the cat to look towards a pillar. One of the Pokeballs on Michael's belt opened up, Houndoom leaping out to stand beside her companion.
From behind the pillar strode…
...another Espeon.
The two Psychic-types cautiously walked towards each other, almost sizing the other up. Michael's Espeon stood proud, but the other one's power was...considerable. The younger cat and his trainer could feel the gap in psychic might.
From the other side of the pillar came a dark form that stood beside the strange Espeon. It almost looked like a twin, but with thicker ears, a thicker tail, and yellow wings pulsating on his body.
An Umbreon.
Houndoom strode forward, looking the Umbreon in the eye. The ruby red eyes of the Moonlight Pokemon stared back, never wavering. The two sets circled each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. There was no hostility mind you, but it seemed almost customary to greet an equal in such a way.
"Seems like somebody got inspired," the voice mused.
"Well...I wasn't the first one," Michael stated, holding his Snag Machine up in his left arm.
The shiny metal of the device shone in the sunlight.
It was the last thing his father ever worked on.
As the machine gleamed, Michael could see two figures standing in the sunlight. One was a girl, a redhead with a blue jacket and pink boots. She was... kinda pretty, Michael wasn't going to lie.
The other was a boy. Older than him and probably a young man by now, his hair had grown a bit after all. But the face, the eyes...they were unmistakable.
He too held his arm up. The design was cruder and much darker, but it too was unmistakable.
It was another Snag Machine.
Michael's skin broke into goosebumps. There was only one other Snag Machine in the world, and it belonged to only one person…
In the shimmering light of Orre's sunset, Wes gave a weary smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. What did I miss?
A/N: He's back.
At last, we come to the final battle of the Tournament arc. Lovrina's Pokemon here were those she used in the Orre Colosseum post-game. Sorry if the battle was a little rushed but I tried to make each of the Pokemon stand out a bit. Hopefully, the climax and emotional payoff made up for it.
I also wanted to give Shadow Lugia a chance to face Lovrina. You couldn't do so in the game since after you defeat Lovrina in Citadark Isle, she can only be fought in the Orre Colosseum. That doesn't allow Shadow Pokemon in. And even if you purify Lugia, he's still banned. Figured I'd rectify that a bit.
Also, yes. I did try to give Lovrina a sort of epiphany here. Ultimately what she did was her fault and there's no excusing that, but maybe she can find some way to start clawing out of the pit she dug?
I gave the Beasts their titles after their backstory, the one where they were originally Pokemon that died in the Brass Tower. Figured it'd be a nice way to tie their backstory in.
And yes...he's back. This was one of the scenes I sorta first thought up of, and I hope the build-up was worth it. I'm just hoping this story is good enough for his return.
Anyways, thank you for reading, leave a review and favorite if you like, and follow if you want to see more. And I just want to say...thank you all for supporting me this far. Don't know how far I would've gotten along if I hadn't.
As always...I'll see you again in the next chapter.