Chapter 2
X-Transceiver News Report
"Strange icy creatures not resembling any known one appearing in various locations across the globe! One instance in Veilstone City where a purple hole in the sky also appeared with some icy… thing coming out of it. There are instances of smaller creatures of hypothesized similar type in Opelucid, Unova, and in Coumarine City, Kalos. These creatures seem highly dangerous, with people blacking out by their presence alone. Mass property damage has also occurred in all three locations. The largest creature, in Veilstone, obtained the identification of 'Bittercold' by local scientists, while Professor Sycamore coined the name 'Void Shadows' for the Coumarine and Opelucid creatures."
"I need to get to Veilstone. High casualties combined with the ineffectiveness of anyone else in dealing with the problem means I should get involved."
The journey to Veilstone seemed unremarkable until Cynthia arrived there. Upon arrival, Cynthia saw vast craters where much of the city had fallen into. Sinkholes emerged and strange spikes pierced buildings. People either fled, or they started screaming. A purple maelstrom appeared in the skies as a creature of unknown origin descended from it.
The icy creature that emerged from the skies filled everyone with despair. Winds of despair flooded the air, causing people to either collapse or black out. The Gym Leader Volkner attempted to help in the evacuation, but he was not facing much success. Strange hexagonal and sharpened protrusions came out of a creature that originally resembled a snowflake. Six of these spikes with more smaller spines attached to them surrounded a core. The name of this creature was the Bittercold. Cynthia felt the combined emotions of various organisms seem to drain away and seep into this entity. She strode towards it, unflinching in the face of despair, golden hair billowing in the fell winds. She sent out her Lucario to battle the Bittercold. She could sense the hostility of the Bittercold instinctively, and felt that this creature, if not stopped, could become a world threat. Even heading close to it felt horrifying and paralyzing—Cynthia remarked that the best possible strategy may be to keep a fair distance from this abomination.
Cynthia responded, "Lucario, use Flash Cannon!"
Flash Cannon landed a hit on the Bittercold. Nothing seemed to happen. At least the dread winds seemed to stop since the attack caused the Bittercold to fixate its attention on Lucario. Lucario, for its part, struggled to go on. The pain and negativity emitted by the Bittercold would cripple the accuracy of any further moves. Lucario grunted in terror as the Bittercold
"Lucario, use Aura Sphere!"
Flash cannon again impacted the Bittercold, once again doing seemingly nothing. Waves started emitting from the Bittercold, doing some damage to Lucario and reducing its Attack and Special Attack. Cynthia switched Lucario out for Spiritomb.
Spiritomb used Dark Pulse. Once again, nothing, not even a scratch on the Bittercold. The Bittercold responded by bringing back the winds of despair, causing Cynthia to fall to one knee and find herself confronted with various creatures of nightmare.
"You will not be able to save your region. You will not be able to save this world. How can you defeat what is negativity personified?"
Cynthia thought to herself, "Something clearly isn't working. How strong was this… thing? It seemed icy, so sending out Garchomp seemed like a horrible idea, but nothing seems to be even denting this new creature. Calling him doesn't seem like a good idea considering he may not come in time.
The Bittercold attacked with some enigmatic energy that did not correspond to any type at all. Spiritomb took heavy damage and became confused.
Spiritomb almost seemed like it was choking on the aura of the Bittercold, but it managed to say something to Cynthia… or maybe it was just her imagination.
Unintelligible at first, but clarifying to a message, Spiritomb urged?
"I have gazed into the Bittercold, and it threatens to destroy this world. Do not give up, Champion Cynthia. The inhabitants of this world are depending on you to win!"
Spiritomb fainted, and it was recalled back.
Across the region, various Trainers started arriving on scene. Lucian of the Elite Four showed up, alongside his compatriots. Tobias, like a last-minute plot device who arrives to either save or ruin the day, emerged as well. Volkner had finished the evacuation, saving as many people as he could, and had returned to the battle scene.
Cynthia called to them,
"It feels like we will all need to hit this creature together with the strongest attacks possible. That might be the only way to damage the Bittercold. The hopes of this world ride with us today. Let's do this!"
Flint sent out Infernape. Aaron sent out Drapion. Bertha sent out Rhyperior. Volkner sent out Electivire. Tobias sent out Darkrai, and Cynthia sent out Garchomp.
"Fire Blast! Rock Wrecker! Thunderbolt! Cross Poison! Dark Pulse! Mega Evolve and use Outrage!"
The Bittercold found itself attacked in six directions, one for each of its spikes. What weakened it this time was the attack on all six parts at once combined with the hopes of the world, anathema to it, strengthening the resolve of its opponents.
The spikes of the Bittercold fell off, and they did not regenerate. The Bittercold core remained. It was now leaking energy quickly, and now had to conserve energy for its attacks.
Tobias yelled, "Now, Bittercold, it is time to expire! Darkrai, use Black Hole Eclipse!"
The usage of Black Hole Eclipse on the weakened Bittercold absorbed all its waves of despair and crunched the core like a tin can. The skies started to clear and the vortex dissipated. People knocked down started to get back up, delirious, but still alive. The core, however, remained alive, if only barely. It screamed and rushed Darkrai with almost all its remaining power, fainting Darkrai instantly.
Cynthia responded. "Garchomp, use Outrage again! Aim for the Bittercold core!"
Garchomp slammed right into the Bittercold core, finally rupturing it.
Everyone started running away as the Bittercold core started emitting an unearthly light. An explosion of light occurred as pieces of Bittercold started, not melting, but disappearing. The broken pieces of the core also vanished after hitting the ground.
Flint asked, "Is it gone?"
Cynthia answered, "I think so. I no longer feel the waves of dread that crashed upon me like a jackhammer."