All right, getting down to the letter on this one. I've had a lot of ideas in my head for how I wanted all of this to go down, but I think I narrowed it down to the point where I won't be having to much going on. I mean, when you have characters like Vale, Silver, and Black all in one chapter, you kinda wanna show off all their badassery at once lol.
But, this also allows me to save some ideas for future parts of the saga. So I suppose that's good. I guess I just feel like… I have SO MANY ideas, but i don't know what to use anymore.
Also, I'm really sorry this took so long. I just wanted this chapter to be perfect, everything was leading up to this battle, and I'm… not very good at writing battles, in my opinion.
Amy47101 does not own pokémon.
o.0.o.0.o
The Adventure Saga
The Truth Behind Us
o.0.o.0.o
Start Date: June 2nd, X017
Current Date: March 19th, X018
o.0.o.0.o
Bianca lifted her head as Black's Archeops leapt back into battle with ferocity. She hadn't the slightest clue how the nurses at pokémon centers could do this every day, each pokémon that was sent to her for healing just seemed to exhaust her emotional psyche more and more.
"Just keep focused Bianca…" she muttered to herself, opening her bag, only for her stomach to sink. She was running out of healing items… How long have they been fighting?
Can we even win against all these people?
She heard a slight snort, and Bianca lifted her head. Embour took a defensive stance in front of her, looking up. Hugging the bag to her chest, Bianca also rose, glancing around Emboar, right to the set of stairs that Silver had dashed up some time ago.
Vale…
Had a hush settled over the crowd, or had her ears stopped working? Bianca found herself shaking as she tunnel visioned on the woman she once considered a teacher… A woman she still so desperately wanted to believe was her friend. Surrounding her were pokémon, both foreign and beautiful, but powerful looking. For a moment, Bianca wondered where Silver was, then she recalled Vale's strength. She could easily wipe the floor with any one of them if she wanted to, right?
Where was Silver? What happened to Silver?!
Vale cast her gaze over the crowd, finally settling on Bianca. It was a stern expression, face set like stone, but painfully reminiscent of when she first met Vale. Bianca had tripped on her own feet, fallen flat on her face… But Vale had picked up what she had dropped, and offered it back to her.
How could a memory like that be popping up right now?
Then, Vale's arm lashed out and she shouted something. Briefly, Bianca saw a taser in her grasp, crackling with power. Then, in a wave of destruction, Vale's pokémon tore across the battlefield alongside the woman herself.
Bianca flinched, throwing up her arms to protect herself. Muscles locked, tears brimming around her eyes, their battle flashed before her eyes. How powerful Vale was, how helpless Bianca felt as her pokémon fell one by one… The coldness, the strict commands and how she controlled everything like Vale was predicting exactly what she was planning.
The Destroyer, a cruel voice whispered in the back of her mind. That's what Ghetsis wanted out of her.
Vale was aiming for her, the weak link, but also the healer that was barely holding their team together. Panic clogged her throat, she couldn't even find the courage to shout. All she could think about was how she was a fool to believe that Vale could ever want anything to do with someone like-
Bianca heard a shout of pain behind her. As she turned, she saw Vale's back, arm slightly raised as electricity crackled across a grunts body. All at once, time seemed to speed up as quickly as it slowed down. Vale grabbed the front of his shirt, knee jamming into his stomach before he fell limp and she shoved him away.
Bianca trembled as she turned back to her, heaving out a breath.
"You need to watch your back." Vale advised her. "… I told you that, right? Always be aware of your blind spots."
"I… I don't remember." Bianca managed. "Vale-"
"I'm sorry." Vale cut her off. "I really, truly am, Bianca. But the end is near and I-"
"You… smiled at me, back at the battle, right?"
Bianca cut her off, trembling fists clenched to her chest. Vale kept her gaze lowered.
"… Maybe I did. Bianca…" her voice trailed off, an apologetic tilt to her tone.
"Don't worry about me. We just need to get through this." Bianca spoke firmly. "You are fighting with us, right?"
"… I figured now was a better time than any to try and break N free of this place."
"Then we're allies," Bianca nodded once. "We can discuss apologies and forgiveness later. I'll hear your story then. And I already know that you're strong enough to survive until at least then."
Vale was quiet, and for a moment, Bianca wondered if there was a flicker of uncertainty or worry across her face.
"Vale." Silver cut through the throng with his Weavile. Bianca let out a quivering sigh of relief. If Silver was alive and addressing her so familiarly, then it wasn't an act. Vale really… really, really was fighting on her side. He cast a glance at her limp and loose bag, then turned back to the taller woman. "I think we're almost out of healing supplies."
"No need for them." Vale gestured slightly, and her Audino stepped forward. "Audino is a support pokémon, she can heal any pokémon that are injured."
Bianca shifted slightly on her feet as the two so seamlessly eased into strategy talk in the midst of the battle. Vale was back in battle mode, the emotions on her face evaporating. As quickly as the worry appeared on Vale's face, it was gone in the face of the battle ahead.
Suddenly, the entire building shook, punctuated with the sound of bellowing roars. Bianca stumbled into Silver, gripping his arm to regain balance. Everyone let out a collective shout, some people sent off balance and falling. The tremors ceased, and as soon as they did, there were murmurs of confusion and uncertainty.
But just as quickly as is ceased, the fighting picked up again.
"What… What was that?" Bianca managed to squeak, uncurling her fingers from around Silvers arm.
"Silver…"
Lyra was the one who spoke. Bianca turned, and saw her fumbling with a cord around her neck. As she pulled it from under her shirt, Bianca could see specks of golden light floating off the rainbow-hued feather at the end. Lyra had it cupped in her grasp, staring at it with wide eyes. Silver narrowed his gaze slightly, brow furrowed in confusion.
Suddenly, a flash of red and blue shone through the window, lighting up the entire hall. Bianca's gaze flicked between the light shining through the window and the glowing feather in Lyra's grasp.
"I-I think I need to get outside!" Lyra's voice suddenly adopted a desperate tilt, wrapping her fingers around the feather and holding it to her chest.
"… Is the feather reacting to what's going on?" Silver began to ask, but Lyra ignored him, urging Meganium forward. "Lyra wait! You can't-!"
Vale's Milotic suddenly slithered in Meganium's path stopping Lyra from proceeding. Lyra halted, glancing over her shoulder with a desperate, confused look on her face.
"Listen," Vale lowered her arm, stepping forward. "If we move quickly, we can get outside. I have an ally in one of the towers, he's on our side."
Without a moment of hesitation, Lyra spoke.
"Lead the way."
o.0.o.0.o
When this all began, I never imagined I would be the one that the worlds hope hinged on. I never imagined I would get caught up in this mess… I would get to MEET the legends of Unova.
But here I am.
I know there's no going back now. I need to fight. I need to win. This needs to stop, be done. I'M done. But to win is to kill. To win is to stop the war. To remove the threat of the other hero.
One must fall so the other will rise and be king of the land. We are both young… No children. No siblings. No descendants. if the other dies, it would mean I'm victorious, and the bloodshed would finally end… right?
But is that really what I want? Do I want this war to end at the suffering of another? More pain and bloodshed? Do I want to kill? I don't. I know I don't. And so, I refuse to concede to the hero's destiny.
His destiny is not mine. His, his sons, his descendants, my ancestors… We may be of the same bloodline, but I refuse. That is what I have decided.
I…
Will forge my own path.
o.0.o.0.o
Zekrom was the first to lash out, head enveloped in psychic energy as he rammed Reshiram in the chest with a Zen Headbutt. Reshiram skidded back with a snarl. He shoved Zekrom back, flapping his wings and taking to the air. Zekrom charged again, and Reshirham dodged, hovering. Hesitating.
"Foolish Reshiram…" Zekrom's voice grumbled, hardened like that of a warrior. "Why won't you accept the truth you claim to adore? Why won't you fight?!"
"My hero," Reshirams voice came out smooth, convincing and diplomatic like that of a charismatic leader. "Does not wish to fight you, OR your hero for the matter. She wants peace."
"There is no such thing!" N spoke in tandem with Zekrom.
"Maybe so. But know this is also knowing that I must fight, if not for the truth, if not for Hilda, but if only to stop you from smothering the people with your lies. I will fight…"
"To save you from yourself!" Hilda shouted, feeling the power coursing through her as flames danced around her vision.
Reshiram took to the ceiling, purple dancing around his mouth before he unleashed it, cutting across the tiles and columns as it chased Zekrom. Zekrom kept his distance, then charged, a war cry escaping his lips as he rammed into Reshiram. Claws met with white fur as Zekrom slashed and attacked, but Reshiram twisted around, throwing Zekrom to the floor.
"Zekrom-!" N cried out as Reshiram reared his head back, flames spewing from his maw like a dragon from a fairy tale. Hilda narrowed her gaze as the flames seemed to deflect, and Zekrom, with a Light Screen on his arm like a shield, pushed against the flames as he stood.
Then, with a mighty jump, he took to the air. Reshiram increased the flames, but Zekrom seemed to cut through them like a sickle to grass. The moment he hit Reshiram, he punched. Reshiram faltered in the air before another Zen Headbutt sent him flying into a pillar. Zekrom was engulfed in a white-hot light, nearly hitting Reshiram. Instead, the Giga Impact crashed into a pillar, causing cracks to crawl up the stone. Reshiram had dodged at the last second, flying to the air.
Zekrom and Reshiram met in the middle, hitting and clawing at one another in tandem, hitting physically before separating. Zekrom suddenly turned his gaze to her, snarling. Then, he reared back his head, an orb of blue electricity forming.
"Hilda!" Reshiram called her name as the Fusion Bolt hurtled towards her. Reshiram darted in front of her, practically flinging her back as he took the brunt of the attack.
"N!" Hilda couldn't help but shout as Reshiram powered up Fusion Flare. Hilda yelped, ducking down and covering her head as the fiery attack hurtled towards the ceiling. Zekrom dodged, a massive hole being blown into it. "N, what the fuck?! Zekrom almost hit me! You don't hit other trainers-"
"This is no mere trainer battle!" N shouted back. "This is war! We are not bound to the rules that some human put in place!"
"They're tearing this place apart!" Hilda exclaimed. "This is your home!"
"Then stop holding back!" N demanded. "Cease your cowering, Hilda!"
"Dammit, Reshiram!" Hilda swiped her arm behind her. Reshiram nodded once, swooping down past Hilda. In a less-than graceful move, Hilda scrambled onto Reshirams back, and they soured to the sky
"Running away?!" N exclaimed.
"We need to get them away from here," Hilda muttered, glancing over her shoulder as N leapt onto Zekrom's back. It was way more graceful and coordinated than Hilda's attempt, and Hilda was almost jealous. Almost. "I take it Zekrom followed the war-hungry brother?"
"Originally, Akeel both dreamed of ideals and would conquer anyone who dared to oppose him. Callan was the diplomat." Reshiram glanced behind them, then spun in the air, avoiding Zekrom's attack and putting distance between them. "The poor hero on Zekrom's back doesn't at all seem inclined for this. Look at his tears. Pah, how weak Akeel's descendants have become!"
"Reshiram, N is as much a warrior as I am a diplomat."
"Maybe so. Hold fast, Hero of Truth!"
Hilda clung to Reshirams fur, closing her eyes as Reshiram flew at what she could only guess was gale force speed. Flipping around, Reshiram unleashed a torrent of flames from his mouth. Zekrom arched around it, and Hilda caught a glimpse of N on his back. Eyes and skin glowing bright red, in sync with Zekrom, who was also surrounded in a red aura. Hilda had no doubt in her mind that she and Reshiram mirrored N.
The two legends, surrounded in their own aura and might, launched towards each other under their heroes insistence. They clashed in the sky, red meeting blue once, twice, before the two were locked in a stalemate. Hilda snarled, grinding her teeth, feeling the raw power licking at her skin, thrumming in her fingertips, burning behind her eyes as she locked gazes with N. His face was turned into a grimace, agonized as the two broke apart, then clashed again.
Reshiram put some distance between them, unleashing another Dragon Pulse. It hit Zekrom's Light Screen, shattering it. Hilda knew it was nothing but a pretty distraction. Zekrom arched around the purple-gray beam of power, head surrounded in purple before he rammed into Reshiram.
Hilda's grip nearly slipped as she was thrown back. The two legends tumbled through the air before Reshiram got the upper hand and kicked Zekrom into one of the towers. The grunts underneath them, previously awestruck, scattered. Zekrom rebounded, ramming into Reshiram. Hilda let out a shriek as Zekrom twisted them around, then in a similar fashion, sent them hurtling to the ground.
"Reshiram!" Hilda called his name as he slowly stood.
"Hilda, what are you-?!"
"Drayden, get everyone out of here!" Hilda's gaze snapped to the president. Even he, unshakeable as he was, seemed awestruck at the sight of the legends battling before him.
Suddenly, a Fusion Bolt hurtled through the air. It hit the ground, but Reshirams quick reflexes didn't spare him. The electric attack seared under his wing. Hilda shuddered, screaming as even a single brush from the attack sent a shock through both Reshiram and herself.
"Go!" Hilda threw her arm out as Clay stubbornly stepped forward, pokéball in hand. "This is between me and N! Go! Now!"
Reshiram soared to the skies again, specks of gold light floating off his fur as he crossed his arms mid air. Zekrom suddenly froze, clearly fighting the golden aura that surrounded him. Then, Reshirham snapped his arms outwards, flapping his wings as golden rings of aura shot across the entire field, striking Zekrom and N.
Again, the two began to clash with their opposing auras, trailing light behind them as they struggled to gain the upper hand. Putting a decent distance between the two, an orb of fire formed before Reshirams mouth. Zekrom mirrored the action, blue electricity crackling before his maw.
Hilda ground her teeth as the attacks met in the middle of the sky, a massive orb or electricity and fire forming in the middle. Both sides were refusing to back down, refusing to concede. Hilda clenched her eyes shut, burying her face into Reshiram's fur as the ball got closer and closer to them.
"One more…"
Hilda's ears rang. Somehow, even so far away, N's voice was clear. She lifted his head, tears streaming down his face. She could sense the tension in his strained voice, feel his anxiety, his fear, his desperation. Quickly, he scrubbed his tears away, bowing his head.
"Just one more! One more and then it will be done! I need- I need to do this!"
"I won't…" Hilda snarled. "Let you!"
Hilda's heart hammered in her chest as she tried to urge Reshiram to keep going, to fight back.
"Hilda… I can't…!"
Hilda couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. She could see the flash of the combined power of Fusion Flare and Fusion Bolt behind her eyelids.
For all but a moment, heat engulfed her entirely.
o.0.o.0.o
N was straddling Zekrom, watching with bated breath as the orb skimmed the top of one of the towers, eliminating the roof and a few feet of bricks before it slammed into the mountain face behind it. The resounding explosion sent a shockwave across the entire area, maybe across all of Unova.
The mountain crumbled slightly, alongside the bricks and flyaway debris that scattered across the ground. Silence washed over the battlefield.
N felt his throat tingle, realizing he had been holding his breath to see if Hilda would somehow reemerge. As he did so, he felt every piece of tension in his body unravel. It was over. It was all over. He won… He won the war, he was the King.
Tears began to roll down his cheeks at the relief, knowing utopia was finally in his grasp. No one ever had to die prematurely ever again. His only obstacle was gone, there wasn't even a body to bury. Almost as if… nothing happened at all…
"Thank you," N managed between, admittedly, pathetic sobs as he wrapped his arms around Zekrom's neck. "Zekrom, my friend, thank you. Thank you so much."
"No… NOOOOOO!"
It was a resounding shriek followed by a sob that broke the silence. N turned his head, face going pale as he saw Bianca on the balcony where Rood stood, hunched over and sobbing uncontrollably. Lyra was by her side, crying with her, arm wrapped around the girl. Cheren was a little farther behind Bianca and Lyra, having crumbled to his knees as he, too, seemed to cry over clenched fists. Black was in the doorframe, entire face having gone pale, staring at the spot where the orb hit.
As if to cover the sobs, the knights below him began to cheer, singing his praises and celebrating their victory. But N couldn't take his eyes away from the group of grievers on the balcony. Suddenly, he didn't feel like celebrating. He couldn't allow their tears to be drowned out by joy. Joy… at the result of death and destruction.
N felt his lip quiver. Though he could deny it through and through until the day of his own death, something… did happen. He just killed a girl. But it was for the greater good, wasn't it? A necessary evil, Father would call it. Destiny; Hilda fell so that he would rise and rule the land. That's what was supposed to happen…
Wasn't it?
Suddenly, Vale slowly eased her way out of the shadows, into the light beside Bianca. She was looking up at him, placing a hand on the girls shoulder.
She said something, but N couldn't make it out. Bianca lifted her head, also staring at him with wide eyes. Vale… was smiling, as if she were pleased. Slowly, she raised her hand.
N felt a sense of calm wash over him, knowing Vale would always understand, would always help him through such difficult things. He had raised his hand too, only to realize that Vale wasn't waving. Fingers curling to his chest, he watched as her arm continued to raise, along with Bianca's, and soon, Cheren and Black's, gaze.
She was pointing at something, not behind him, but over him.
N snapped his head up, eyes wide and mouth parted as the smoke cleared. Above him, Reshiram flapped his wings, both he and Hilda staring at him with those glowing blue eyes. Hilda stood on his back like a warrior, shoulders squared, a resigned expression on her face.
Then, she turned her gaze away, her arm slashing through the air.
"Zek-!" N didn't even get through Zekrom's name before Fusion Flare hurtled towards them.
It all seemed to happen so slowly to him.
Zekrom had bucked, throwing N off his back and taking the full brunt of the Fusion Flare. N heard screaming, wondering who it was, but then he realized it was Zekrom and himself in tandem. As the fiery red flames engulfed him, Zekrom was loosing form, bit by bit, piece by piece. Zekrom glanced back, red eyes loosing their glowing power, staring at N. Desperately, N extended his arm to the legend, his friend.
"I… I'm sorry Na-" Zekrom's words were suddenly cut off as he became unable to keep taking the attack. Zekrom was thrown back, and as he spun, the smaller he became.
Eventually, all that was left was the Dark Stone itself, falling with bits of flames trailing behind it. N stretched out his arms to the orb, catching it and cradling it like it was a delicate child. It was hot, far to hot, burning his arms as he tried to hear Zekrom's voice, but heard nothing.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, sizzling against the Dark Stone as he hugged it to his chest.
I… I lost.
His gaze flicked back to Roods balcony. Bianca had her arms around Cheren, both were cheering and crying. Black had his hands over his mouth, slumped against the wall, shoulders shaking. Vale had one foot on the railing, but the dexholders, Silver and Lyra, was holding her back.
N glanced back at Hilda, back at the victor, who survived. Who won. She didn't look at all pleased, eyes creased as if she were holding back tears, pitying him.
I lost.
She was saying something, shouting something, but he couldn't make it out. His ears were ringing.
I lost. I lost.
N tilted his head back, ready to embrace death, however it was to come. There was no point in really, truly going on, now that he….
… Lost. I lost. I lost, I lost, I failed. I failed everyone.
He knew he should be disappointed, but somehow… somehow…
Why am I so happy that my greatest opponent and obstacle won? Why am I elated that she isn't dead? Is it that she's still alive, or…
"N!"
He knew he was falling to his death, he didn't want to hear her words of apologies or victorious gloating. He wanted to pass on in peace, and be with the ones that he couldn't save. That was the best route for him right now, for him to move on peacefully and honorably, even if it hurt.
"Braviery, go! GO!"
N felt the breath leave his lungs as a pair of claws wrapped tight around his shoulders, slightly piercing his flesh, but stopping his fall before he hit the ground. N blinked open his eyes, blinking away the tears as Hilda's Braviary flapped her wings, rising up into the sky, farther from the ground.
"You may have tried to kill my trainer," Braviary admonished him. "But you are the best hope I have of finding my flock."
"… What?" N whispered, not understanding. What he could possibly know about this Braviary's flock…?
Braviary brought him up, landing him on the back of Reshiram. He didn't have the strength to stand, so he kneeled, cradling Zekrom's Dark Stone to his chest in one arm, his other hand brushing across the fur and feathers of Reshiram. With tears in his eyes, he finally lifted his head. Hilda was still standing, staring down at him as the glowing on her eyes and flesh began to ebb away to nothing.
"… So I can assume you b-brought me here to-to kill me personally." N bowed his head, shrinking back and trembling.
Cowering.
"Fuck. That." Hilda spoke firmly, simply, and so crassly in comparison to him. "No one else is going to die because of our stupid ancestors. It ends with you, and me, today."
"It won't," N murmured, shaking his head. "It's not possible. Even… Even if we chose to stop, it will just be what happened to the first kings. Our children will take over."
"Then we teach them better." Hilda affirmed. "Nothing will change if we wallow in the way things were. The only way we can get shit done is if we roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves. I'm done with the fighting. Done. And you… you're done too, I can tell. Cast aside your title as king, and I'll cast aside mine. We have the power and ability to make change. We can make Unova a utopia, but we can be honest about it too."
Hilda kneeled across from him, meeting his gaze.
"You want a better world. We all want a perfect world, N. But you need to be honest with yourself. All this…" she trailed off, gesturing widely around her. "… The bombings, the stealing pokémon, the robberies, the kidnapping and the murders… It's against what you're trying to do. This isn't peaceful. This won't make people want to fight with you. This isn't how we make permanent change, by forcing it onto people. Do you understand?"
N lowered his gaze, each accusation a reminder of things he thought were right in the moment. Actions Father took to protect Team Plasma, to avenge Unovan pokémon. Actions he nearly took himself, near the end.
"I just… I just…" N sniffled, shaking his head. He could practically hear Father's voice in his head, screaming at him to stop sniveling and do something. He was King, he shouldn't be acting so weak in front of his greatest enemy. Squeezing his eyes shut, shaking as he felt something like a hand constrict around his heart and lungs, choking the air out of him. "I… I can't-"
"N, you can." Hilda suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. "If I thought you were irredeemable, or a failure, or whatever, I wouldn't have bothered to save you. I would have let you fall."
"I-I-"
"I don't want some teenagers death on my shoulders," Hilda continued. "And you… don't want that either. Neither of us want to devastate the people closest to us like that."
N flinched slightly, recalling Bianca's shriek, her bellowing sobs as she practically heaved over the railing. Bianca, who despite her weakness with pokémon, still managed to have pokémon who loved her. Who… Who wasn't a bad person for being a trainer, just a girl, trying to find her place in the world.
Hugging Zekrom, desperate for his voice, his guidance, felt his thoughts drifting. If he had hit the ground, would his Father be upset? Would Anthea make it in time to save him? Would she, Concordia, and the Triad cry, just as Bianca, Cheren, and Black had for Hilda?
Vale almost vaulted herself over the railing to get to him before he fell. She… would be devastated if he died, wouldn't she?
You inspire hope, N. Please, make sure that whatever you do, you're following your heart.
Vale always had so much faith in him, in the parts that made him weak. N bowed his head forward, practically hunching around the Dark Stone as he sobbed.
"My-My h-heart…" he managed. "Wants peace. I don't- I can't fight anymore. I don't want… to hurt people."
"N,"
He lifted his gaze, and saw Hilda was smiling at him. Not malicious, not mean spirited, not boastful. It was a small smile, pleased but tired eyes staring at him. Her hand was extended, holding it out to him.
"Go on, moron," Hilda insisted, flexing her fingers. "Shake on it. But don't shake if you don't mean it."
N stared at her hand. Against all logical odds, shaking her hand now wouldn't mean anything. Even if they decided to change for the better, there was no guarantee she could protect him. And even worse, he feared he would be used as a pawn, and only get off lighter by throwing his comrades to the Mightyena that were desperate for justice.
But she was the Hero of Truth, and therein couldn't lie to him.
He glanced behind her, back at Rood's balcony. Vale was staring up at him. Silver still had a firm grip on her arm, keeping her from moving anywhere, but she was worried, so worried. Her tense stance, flickering gaze and deep frown all but confirmed it to him.
Follow your heart.
He could practically sense it in her mind, that is what she was trying to encourage him to move forward. Flicking his gaze back to Hilda, he tentatively reached out his hand.
"Gah-!"
"What-?!"
The moment was shattered as Reshiram let out a shriek of pain, tilting to the side. Hilda was set off kilter, tumbling, but N reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist and yanking her away from the edge. Screams of panic echoed from below, and as N looked around, he saw enemy and ally alike trying to figure out where the attack came from.
"Reshiram!" Hilda called to the pokémon, afraid, desperate. Who would dare to attack a legend like that? N felt his blood run cold, hearing Reshiram's pained panting.
"Hilda, my hero, I do not know if-"
Another shriek ripped from his throat, this time, the beam of a Dragon Pulse shooting straight through the legend. With the minimal consciousness he had left, Reshiram began to drift downwards, towards the hole they had flown out of earlier.
"Reshiram! Come on… Come on!"
Hilda was trying to regain control to at least give them a safe landing, but a third Dragon Pulse sealed their fate. As they hurtled closer to the floor, specks of light began to lift off Reshiram. As his opposing brother had before…
Reshiram was beginning to revert back to his slumbering state.
o.0.o.0.o
"Stop…! Stop it!" Bianca was screaming over the balcony, practically sobbing as grunts swarmed the gym leaders. "You're going to kill them! Stop!"
They were blaming them, particularly Drayden and Iris, for attacking Reshiram and endangering their King. Reason appears to have left their minds, and Bianca trembled, not sure what to do. This wasn't just a pokémon battle anymore. This was an angry mob, willing to tear them apart, limb from limb if given the chance.
"Reshiram's loosing form!" Black shouted as Reshiram drifted down with all the tranquility of a leaden weight, Hilda and N practically clinging to each other on his back. He ran to the balcony, analytical gaze flying across the ground in a desperate search for the attacker. "Damn…!"
"Wh-What do we do?!" Cheren stuttered, stumbling over his words as he watched the chaos unfold. Bianca couldn't stop herself from shaking, tears rolling down her cheeks in uncontrollable rivers. Lyra was on her knees, head bowed with her bangs almost covering her eyes. Silver was at her side, hands on her shoulders, calling her name.
"… Steel your heart and remain calm."
In the midst of the whirlwind of emotions that Bianca found herself experiencing, Vale's voice cut through the madness, calm like a river. Bianca glanced at her, stoic and calm in the face of this chaos. It's as she always was in the face of any hardship or danger. Cool, calm, collected…
Suddenly, Vale turned her around, hands warm on her shoulder as Vale looked her straight in the eye.
"I'm going to the throne room to get N and Hilda." Vale spoke sternly. "Stay right here with Silver and Lyra, don't follow me."
"But Vale, the attacked took down a legend-"
"Here," Vale held out a belt of pokeballs. "Take them. My team from Johto… They were bred and raised by Ghetsis, but they're kind. They'll look after you when I'm gone."
"Wait!" Bianca fumbled to catch the belt, holding it in her grasp as Vale turned. "Vale, you need backup, you can't go alone!"
"Bianca…" Vale trailed off, hand on the doorframe as she let out a breath. "… You've grown so much. The war is over. Now you and your friends can enjoy the happiness you've worked so hard for. I'll be right back."
She smiled, looking over her shoulder. Bianca felt the words die on her lips, clutching the belt to her chest. Vale nodded, then turned her gaze forward and disappeared back into the castle.
Lowering her gaze, Bianca stared down at the pokéballs in her grasp. A sick, awful, slithering feeling was bubbling in her stomach. Something wasn't right, her instincts were screaming, but she didn't know what. Trembling, her gaze swept towards Black and Cheren, who were still focusing on the battle below. Lyra was still on her knees, and Silver was at her side, grasping her shoulder, trying to get a response.
"Something's wrong with Lyra," Silver spoke, shaking his head and standing. He was trying to stay calm, but there was a tremble in his voice that revealed the true depths of his panic. "She's not responding, but she's breathing. We need to get her out of here. Bianca, your Embour can carry-"
"S-Silver." Bianca squared her shoulders, trying to channel Hilda's confidence, and stepped forward. "Silver, something is wrong with Vale."
"Don't be ridiculous, she-"
"Silver." Bianca shoved the pokéballs under his nose, trembling slightly. "Something is wrong with Vale. She went to the throne room to get N and Hilda, but left her pokémon. Something is wrong."
Silver was silent, staring at the belt.
"She… gave these to you?"
"Yes." Bianca nodded firmly. "She gave them to me and left. I… I don't know what is going on, but I'm going after Vale."
"Silver! Lyra!"
Bianca turned her head away from Silver as Blitz and Looker suddenly separated themselves from the chaos going on inside. They were bloodied and bruised, but alive.
"We caught glimpses of the battle between N and Hilda." Looker spoke. "We have Unovan police agents infiltrating and arresting people."
"Rood already surrendered." Black informed them. "… In case him being tied to that pillar wasn't indication enough."
"Another sage also surrendered," Cheren chimed in. "Brycen froze him to a pillar. Ryoku was his name, I believe."
"You said Vale was fighting with us, right?" Blitz suddenly piped up. It was quite clear that she was trying to contain her excitement. "Where is she?"
"She left." Bianca took the opportunity to speak, stepping forward.
"… Left?" Looker echoed. "Left where?"
"I need you two," Silver, staring at Looker and Blitz. "To watch Lyra. She's been like that since she got out here. I… I don't know what's going on, but I can't get her to respond, but right now Vale…"
"What's wrong with Vale?" Blitz asked, her excitement ebbing away to a slightly anxious tone. Silver was silent, turning towards her. "You're coming, right?"
"Of course," Bianca nodded.
"Then so are we." Cheren stood beside Black, nodding towards Bianca. "Whatever happened, neither Hilda or N are ready to face another battle."
"Wherever the attack came from, the attacker saw where they fell." Black glanced at the pokéballs in Bianca's grasp. "Vale isn't indestructible nor is she a superhero. She can't fight a pokémon with just her fists."
"Then it's decided." Silver glanced at Lyra, grasping her hand. "… I'll be right back, Lyra. Just hang tight."
As Silver stood, Lyra's hand simply slipped from his grasp. He turned to Looker and Blitz, but didn't say a word. Honestly though? To Bianca, it felt like he didn't need to say anything. It was decently clear that if anything happened to Lyra, he was going to hold Blitz and Looker responsible.
And truthfully, Bianca wasn't sure of anyone who would want to be on Silver's hit list.
Silver brushed past the two agents, who were discussing bringing Lyra inside. Black was at the ready to fight, while Cheren lingered next to her.
The war was over, Vale had said. There was relief in those words, because maybe, just maybe, once they reunited with Hilda and Vale, things could finally be normal again.