"Team Radiance," I breathed.
I heard people shuffle behind us and the creaking of a door, but the woman who looked like Cassandra raised her hand. "Try and run if you all want to. But I'm afraid there's no escape. We have taken control of the Chateau."
"Not for long," Clara yelled, stepping forwards, letting out her Heliolisk. "Thunderbolt!"
Someone stepped forwards, raising their arm, a circular disk protruding from their black jumpsuit. The bolt of electricity was drawn to it and the disk absorbed it.
Kamake smiled as she lowered her arm. "We'll have none of that now dear."
Clara's eyes narrowed, but two other people stepped forwards. Viola and Grant.
"We're gym leaders of Kalos," Viola announced as she and Grant sent out a Vivillon and a Tyrunt. "We're not going to let you get away with this."
The woman sighed, reminding me even more of Cassandra. But, it couldn't be. She had died. Crushed by falling debris. This couldn't be her. It just couldn't.
She sent out two Pokemon. A Volcarona. No, Cassandra's Volcarona.
"Heat Wave," she said.
Volcarona screeched, flapping her six wings, a wave of heat blasting into Vivillon, Tyrunt, and Heliolisk. Their trainers had to take several steps back to avoid the worst of the attack. My hand automatically went to Arcanine's pokeball, then I remembered he was still recovering from our battle with Clara.
Out of the three Pokemon hit by Heat Wave, only Tyrunt remained standing, if only barely.
"Disappointing for being gym leaders," the woman sighed, then set her gaze on me. "But now for the real reason for being here. Hello Zeno, I don't think we had the pleasure of meeting."
"So you aren't Cassandra," I said, stepping forwards to make myself the primary target. Have her focused on me.
She chuckled, then her eyes hardened. "Of course not. Though, I must say I do bare some similarities with my mother."
Shocked, I took half a step backwards as she raised her hands into the air, Volcarona hovering above. "I am Eve, daughter of Cassandra, and the new leader of Team Radiance!"
She lowered her hands. "I must say, I have been extremely enraged by you, Hero Born of Darkness."
"You're too late to call me that," I said. "I've left that part of me behind."
"Too bad," she said, smirking. "Because I have a feeling this region might need a hero. Especially one that managed to destroy the Shadow."
"What do you want?" I asked, my hand purposely close to Arcanine's pokeball, but my knife was situated behind it, out of sight from her.
"To see what you're made of," Eve said simply. "I want to see the strength of the boy who managed to kill my mother and beat the Shadow."
"I didn't kill her," I said, eyes narrowed. "Her own stupidity that she could trust the Shadow to live up to his word caused her demise."
"Convince yourself all you want," she said, glaring at me. "But we both know you had a hand in it."
My fist tightened. True, if I hadn't fainted all her Pokemon, she could've had a way to live.
"The past is the past," I said. "Besides, if you've come here to battle me, don't even bother. My Pokemon are unable to battle at the moment."
She pursed her lip. "A pity. Then how about this."
She snapped her fingers and the grunts began leaving, Kamake staying by Eve's side. "Meet us at the entrance to Connecting Cave by evening. That should give you plenty of time to heal. And for insurance,"
She nodded and Kamake held up her other arm, pressing a button on it. Three beams of light shot from it and circled around Vivillon, Tyrunt, and Heliolisk. Viola, Grant, and Clara tried to run forwards, but Volcarona flew forwards, blocking their path. Kamake lifted her arm and the three Pokemon were raised into the air effortlessly.
"We wait you at evening," Eve said, then left along with Kamake. A full minute passed before Volcarona went after them.
I sighed, letting my hand go limp.
Clara came to stand in front of me, clutching the front of my shirt. By then, only my friends, Viola, Grant, and Clara were still here. Everyone else had booked it.
"Tell me," she put her face close to mine. "What the hell is going on here!"
I shook her off me. "Long story short, when we traveled through Alola, we encountered Team Radiance multiple times. I beat their leader, Cassandra, and she ended dying from the collapsed roof."
"None of that matters right now," Viola said, getting between me and Clara. "What we need to do is get our Pokemon back."
Grant nodded. "Whatever happened with Zeno and them is not the main concern here."
Clara backed off, but she still glared at me. Add this to her list of reasons why she hated me.
"She asked for Zeno," Alex reminded us. "However much you guys want to battle, you can't."
"And why should we play by their rules!?" Clara snapped at her.
"Because Zeno managed to defeat her mother and the Shadow," Robert said. "He took second place in the Alolan Pokemon League."
Grant slapped his forehead. "That's where I've seen you before. I watched that live."
Clara smirked. "Yeah, but I managed to beat him. If anything, I should take on Eve. Surely I'm more capable."
I rested my hand on Arcanine's pokeball as she, Alex, and Robert bickered while Viola and Grant tried to make peace. It was true. Clara was stronger than me. I also didn't want to send out Froakie and Riolu against what I was sure was Cassandra's entire team in the hands of her daughter.
I looked to Robert. "I need some of your potions."
He stopped arguing, which prompted Alex and Clara to stop as well, before taking off his backpack.
"You seriously aren't going to try and battle her with just Arcanine are you?" Clara asked sarcastically. "'Cause that's gonna go well. Unless of course you're just gonna sacrifice Froakie and Riolu."
I ignored her and looked at Viola. "I have a favor to ask."
...
The sun was setting by the time we saw Connecting Cave. In front of the entrance was Team Radiance, Eve waiting with a smile on her face.
"Come Zeno," she said, grabbing a pokeball and sending out Golduck, another one of Cassandra's Pokemon. "Come and show me the power of the Hero Born of Darkness."
I raised my gaze to meet hers. "Your funeral."
Her eye twitched, the word funeral striking a nerve.
"Now then," I raised my pokeball, making sure everyone else was far enough behind me. "Because I was partially responsible for Cassandra's death, I'll fight you with all I have."
"Just know that I have a full team of six," she said, Golduck slowly walking forwards, fist slowly covering itself in ice. "And I won't be holding back."
"Neither will I," I said, launching the pokeball into the air. "Leaf Blade."
With a flash of light, something flew past Golduck, slicing across his chest, sending him flying behind Eve. A slight wind blew my hair back from the impact as I grinned at Eve's wide eyes. I also heard a small gasp from behind me, which I was pretty sure was from Clara.
"Now then!" I called out to my Pokemon, who stood, talons digging into the earth, cloak rustling in the wind. "Let's give her all we got, Decidueye!"
...
Viola led me to a room where PC was set up, a capsule connected to its side. "Here."
I nodded. "Thanks."
Everyone had followed us as I booted up the machine. I typed in a number and waited. The screen flickered and then materialized. At first I could only see the inside of a cabin-like house, a huge tank of water to the right. Then someone came into view, and I, along with Alex and Robert who were on either side of me exclaimed, "Lillie!"
She grinned at us through the screen, her hair up in a ponytail, dressed in a white Aether suit. "Zeno! Alex and Robert! Alola!"
We grinned. "Alola."
Lillie was about to say something, but a crash somewhere to her right made her turn that way. "Give me a moment."
She disappeared from the screen and we heard her yell, "Hurry it up you two! Zeno's on the screen!"
She returned moments later with two people who were both covered in dirt. Kukui with his white lab coat and lack of shirt along with Gladion, who was wearing an Aether uniform like Lillie.
"Alola cousins," Kukui greeted with a wave of a hand.
Gladion crossed his arms, his blonde hair having grown out more on his left side, no longer giving him the emo look. He grinned. "How's it going Zeno. Died again?"
"Ha ha," I said. "Great to see you all too. Look, I have a favor Kukui. I need you to send me my Pokemon."
"Which ones?" he asked.
"All of them," I said, deadly serious.
Gladion raised an eyebrow. "New rival beating you?"
"Nah," Robert said besides me, grinning. "She only just beat him earlier."
"That's," I raised my hand to block Robert's face. "Not why I need my Pokemon. Team Radiance is back."
Lillie sighed. "So that's where they went. Aether has been trying to track them, but we lost sight of them two months ago. So they're in Kalos now huh."
I nodded. "I only have three Pokemon with me at the moment. Arcanine being the only one able to go against Eve."
"Who's Eve?" Gladion asked.
"Cassandra's daughter," I said. "Look, we don't have a lot of time. They have hostages and Eve wants to test me I guess."
Kukui nodded and walked away, presumably to gather my Pokemon. I directed my eyes to Gladion. "Where's Mahina?"
He shook his head. "She and Silvally are being examined at Aether."
"Harmless," he said, seeing my expression. "Trust me. Mahina's choice. Anyway, Aether's been receiving reports of stray Ultra Beasts. Just rumors, but Hau's checking it out."
"Which is why he isn't here," Lillie continued for her brother. "He'll be jealous that we got to speak to you without him."
I chuckled, imagining Hau flipping out. "We'll call him later."
Alex leaned in closer. "Say Lillie, how's the relationship going."
Lillie went bright red and she looked away. "Well, you know, it's-"
"Yeah, Lillie," Gladion folded his arms. "I'd like to know as well."
Lillie puffed out her cheeks. "I don't have to tell you anything brother."
The three of us in Kalos laughed while Gladion just looked slightly amused. I heard an impatient sigh from behind us and knew Clara was reaching her limit.
"Will you all just hurry it up already," she snapped. Scratch that. She had just reached her limit.
Gladion peered forwards. "Who's that?"
"Zeno's rival," Robert said immediately and I slapped him on the back of the head.
"Ah," Gladion grinned. "Zeno, you lost to a girl in a goth dress."
I heard Clara grit her teeth as I chuckled. "Is it any better than losing to you emo boy?"
"Good point," Gladion said, rubbing his hair. "But I'm pretty sure I'm no longer emo anymore. Just like how you're no longer a stalker."
I cocked a smile. "The trench is gone. Deal with it."
Kukui came back into view, carrying five pokeballs. "Here we are. They'll be with you a minute, Zeno."
I nodded. "Thanks Kukui. Give my regards to your wife."
He grinned. "Will do."
Soon, I had clipped my old pokeballs onto my belt alongside, Arcanine's, Froakie's, and Riolu's. "Feels good to have them back."
I looked back up at the screen. "Once I deal with Team Radiance, I'll send them back. If Froakie and Riolu are to get stronger, I can't rely on me old team."
Kukui nodded. "Of course."
"Good luck," Lillie said encouragingly.
"Knock 'em dead," Gladion said, grinning again. "Show that rival of yours just how powerful you are."
"Will do," I said. "Alola."
"Alola," Alex and Robert echoed.
The screen went dark and I stood up. Stepping back, I began releasing my Pokemon one-by-one. First Arcanine, recently healed, Riolu, Froakie, then my Alolan Pokemon. Decidueye's cloak fluttered around him, Lycanroc shook himself, Kabutops slammed his scythes together, and Mimi bobbed her "head" around. I wisely kept Gyarados tucked in his pokeball.
Their eyes went wide when they saw me and I was soon covered by them.
"Hey you guys," I said, laughing. "Great to see you all again."
As soon as they were done with their greeting, I stood. "Look, this is great and all, but we have a situation. Team Radiance."
They stood at attention and I heard Grant whistle in appreciation.
"So," I raised a fist. "Who's ready to kick their butts again!?"
They cheered and I thought, "Here we come, Team Radiance. I'll show you what we can do, Eve."
...
We made our way down Route 7 towards Connecting Cave. Clara had changed back into her goth outfit, Viola and Grant just behind her. Alex and Robert walked on either side of me as the sun sunk lower in the sky. Then the cave came into view and so did Team Radiance. Eve was there, grinning.
I clenched my hand around Decidueye's pokeball. "Bring it on."
Team Radiance is back, so why not bring back Zeno's old Alolan team? Next chapter will be primarily be about the battle between Zeno and Eve. Look forward to it. However, I will be working on TMR before then and maybe a chapter of Pokemon Dark (how 'bout we call it PD for short). I know some of you immensely enjoyed it, so I'll be working on it soon. Little warning, it will be horror. Not that the warning really matters. It ain't called Pokemon Dark for a reason. So, look forward to the updates. Toodles
