Grab your popcorn folks, 'cause you're in for a long one today. Prepare yourselves for an epic chapter like no other! Just over 5000 words of awesomeness! This will mark the end of the first half of LDOC, so I made sure to make it a wild ride. Read on and comment your reactions if you want to. See you at the Author's Note at the bottom!

"I'll take him."

I watched wide-eyed as the glow of light began transforming.

"I said, I'll take him."

A cyclone of water swirling around and around in a column that reached high up into the night sky as the 13th hour came to a close.

"You and I Froakie, we'll beat the gyms and the Pokemon League. Together."

A single tear dripped down my cheek, falling on the grass, as a shape within the torrent of water turned to look at me. Red eyes flashed within and I felt a sudden surge of energy within me, connecting to him. Our bond, intensifying to a whole new level of power.

I could see the shadows of the flames behind me, screams in the distant. As I stepped closer to my partner, he did the same. With each step, I felt our connection grow, and then I felt myself walking in two directions, I could see myself walking towards him, from his eyes.

I stood in front of him, our gazes meeting. I nodded and so did he. "Come on, Fro-. I mean," I held out my fist. "Let's go save them, Greninja!"

...

"What is this!?" the man took a step back as the column of water began moving towards him. "What is this!?"

Soon, he saw him. Walking side-by-side the water, was the original sacrifice to Chaos.

"You," the cultist snarled. "Hero Born of Darkness!"

Then, whatever was in the cyclone of water burst forwards, bringing with it the storm.

...

"GRENINJA!" I shouted, moving as he did. We were no longer individuals. We were one, combined through the power of our bond.

The cultist raised the skull in his hand, the orb in its left eye glowing and connecting to the Gengar's tongue to his side. Arms extended from Gengar as he sunk into the ground, spikes jutting out of him. A third eye popped into existence, rolling around until it locked onto cyclone of water heading towards him. The Mega Gengar grinned and let out a metallic roar before charging forwards, thrusting out a shadowy fist. Several ghost fists appeared all around the cyclone, smashing against it.

A shout came from Greninja and the water began expanding, blasting away the fists and Gengar. The Mega leaped back and fired a beam of energy.

"Dodge!" I shouted.

I could see the outline of his body inside, leaping aside, the energy grazing the water.

"GO!" I yelled.

Greninja charged forwards, slamming the torrent of water against Gengar, blasting the Ghost type away.

"Don't let up!" The cultist roared with anger. "We will kill you both here!"

I stepped forwards. "Go ahead and try! We've both been there, but we both managed to come back! So bring it on!"

Greninja yelled in sync with me, the cyclone growing in intensity. Then it exploded outwards, before being sucked back towards Greninja, forming a black cloak around him. He shot forwards, throwing Water Shurikens, each one knocking Gengar back several steps.

Greninja leaped back through the air, landing in front of me, hand in front of his face, striking the pose of a ninja. His body was a sleek black and his tongue that wrapped around his neck a deep red. On both his knees and elbows there were white patches and on each leg a Water Shuriken had already formed, larger than regular ones. Attached to his legs closer to his feet were two glowing blades with two more on both arms. A black cloak hung down over him, a hood over his head. He glanced at me, red eyes flashing in the darkness.

"Greninja," I breathed, seeing him in this form reminded me of myself. I hardened my gaze and looked towards the cultist and his Gengar. "Let's show them the power of our bond!"

"Greninj," Greninja agreed, crouching low.

We ran as one, our spirits connected. Greninja grabbed both shurikens on his legs and flung both of them with opposite arms. They exploded in Gengar's face, allowing Greninja to get in close, slamming his glowing fist upwards. He twirled his body around, slamming a glowing foot in Mega Gengar's face.

With a yell, I swung my leg at the same time as Greninja, dealing a blow against the cultist's side. He roared in pain, his hood flipping back. He was young, probably barely past 20. With wild blonde hair and a snarl on his face.

"You," he spat, eyes wide. "You dare oppose the great Chaos!? The All-Powerful One!? Know your place!"

He charged forward, brandishing a knife. I side-stepped, feeling Greninja do the same as Gengar fired an attack.

"Together," we both thought as one. "Together we can beat them! As One!"

I whipped out my knife as Greninja grabbed his from his leg, the glowing blade turning into a dark black. We swung at the same time, my blade grazing the cultist's arm and Greninja's making the Gengar roar in pain. We both raised our arms, blocking an incoming strike. A kick surprised us both, slamming us both onto our backs. We both gasped in pain, but as quickly as we had fallen, we were back on our feet.

I threw my blade, the edge grazing the cultist's cheek, and I jumped forwards, slamming a blow into Gengar's third eye. I kept up the assault, knocking the blade and his skull out his hand, then blasted the Ghost type with Water Shurikens. I ducked beneath the incoming Shadow Punches, driving a fist home in the guy's stomach. He gasped as Gengar roared in pain. I drove a fist up, slamming Gengar in the chin. I spun around, slamming my foot against the man's face, driving the Gengar into the dirt.

The cultist didn't get back up and his Gengar reverted out of his Mega Form. I took a step back, our chests rising and falling. A sharp pain shot through my body, causing me to fall to my knees, fingers sinking into the dirt. I looked at Greninja who was doing the same, his black cloak gone. Now he was just a regular shiny black Greninja, his extra weapons missing. During that battle, we had truly become one. My actions were his, his attacks mine. But whatever we had just did, we had reached a limit.

"It's like," I grasped my shirt. "It's like we can only expend as much energy as the other can. Or something similar. Maybe my energy becomes yours..."

"Syl!" a Pokemon cried. I turned to see Valerie's Sylveon wrapping her feelers around the cultist and his Gengar. The Fairy type shouted at me and turned her head towards the main city. The message was clear.

"Get up," I groaned, picking myself up. "Our job isn't done yet."

"Gren," Greninja agreed.

"Arcanine," I let him out. He saw the flames ahead of us and growled. After picking up my knife and stomping my foot through the skull the man was carrying and taking the Keystone, I climbed atop Arcanine. "Let's go!"

He ran, stray sparks of fire flying off of him as he ignored the path and took the straight shot to the city. Greninja ran alongside us, his hands behind him as his feet were a blur.

My thoughts flashed to Alex and Robert and I tightened my grip on Arcanine's fur. "Please be alright."

...

"Pyroar!" Alex shouted and the Fire type shot a Flamethrower that forced the Dusknoir to back away. However, he simply came back with a fist surging with electricity.

A blast of pink energy hit the Ghost type in the back, sending him crashing into the river behind Alex.

"Valerie!" Robert exclaimed as the Gym Leader walked on the street, an Aromatisse by her side.

The usual serene-faced woman had an expression of rage. "Hear me!"

The battles going on around them all ceased, trainers, cultists, and Pokemon alike turning to look who had spoken.

"This is a peaceful land of fairies," she spread her arms wide. "One where humans and Pokemon are allowed to live in this blessed land."

"Don't think they'll allow you to run rampant, tainting their land with the blood of innocents," Her eyes glowed pink and her face became calmer. "I call upon the blessing of Xerneas, Mistress of Life, save the city you have blessed!"

All around her, the air seemed to warp. No, all around the city. Fairy type Pokemon began appearing, all with a pink aura around them. The ground and surrounding air became misty, the Pokemon defending against the Cult of Chaos becoming healed, stronger.

"Floette," Alex said as her Pokemon popped out of her pokeball and absorbed the mist. She began glowing, growing taller, beautiful orange flowers with a wonderful fragrant growing around her head. The newly evolved Florges gave a cry, a mystic aura surrounding her.

"Go, my Fairies!" Valerie cried as the Pokemon charged the enemy. "Defeat the Cult who dares defy the Mistress of Life!"

...

"Flare Blitz!"

I leaped off Arcanine as he shot forwards at high speeds down the street, my fall stopped as Greninja leaped and caught me. The Fire type barreled down the Dusknoir, an explosion of flames resulting from the impact.

As Greninja set me down on the road just inside the city, I could feel the mist swirl around me. "What is this?"

I didn't have time to ponder about that for long when a Barbaracle flew by in front of me and slammed into a building.

"Dammit!" a familiar voice yelled.

I turned my head to see Clara being pushed back down an adjacent street, several cultists and their Ghost types hammering at her Scizor, who already looked weak.

"Arcanine!" I shouted and he came running back. "Flame Wheel!"

He jumped and curled into a wheel of flames, twisting midair and shooting down the street. He zoomed past Clara and Scizor, scattering a Chandelure and Banette, but slamming into a Trevenant.

"Zeno!?" Clara turned sharply. "Figures."

"Don't mind my help now?" I asked, but I already knew the answer. Clara had some bruises and small cuts on her body already. Apparently she decided to take the cultists on hand-to-hand.

Clara smirked. "What, done with your breakdown? I saw that gym battle. You sure you should be out here battling?"

"I'm sure," I took a step forwards. "I've come to realize something important, something I've been taking for granted."

I took a deep breath, an action mimicked by Greninja who stood beside me. "The bond we share with our Pokemon, it must be on equal terms. It can never be one-sided and once broken, it must be reforged."

I turned my head to look at Clara, grinning. "And that's when you reach a whole new level of friendship."

"It's you!" a voice cried and I looked back to see the cultist with dreadlocks, the one I had battled back in Lumiose. "Don't think you can run now! You will die here!"

"If your guy with the skull couldn't," I help up the Keystone I had took and the three cultists in front of me gasped. "Then you can't even dream of it."

"You dare take that!?" Dreadlocks screams. "A gift given by Chaos herself!? You must be punished!"

He brandished a skeleton hand, clutched around a Keystone. "Hear the Chaos! Hear the screams! Fuel your demons and Mega Evolve!"

His Banette glowed and the zippers began unzipping, ghostly purple claws and feet shot out.

Arcanine had returned to my side, but I let out Lucario to handle this.

"Let our trust never wane," I held up my knife, my thumb pressed up against my Keystone and ribbons of light wrapped around me and Lucario, the aura rising around him. "And our bond never break as we overcome the chaos! Our fighting spirit will never be crushed! Mega Evolve!"

Lucario howled as he mega evolved, his aura rising. Reaching out, I tried to feel that connection I could feel back in that land of fairies. I could feel our bond, his aura. And together, with the strength of both our spirits, we suppressed it.

Lucario raised an arm, Banette's claws bouncing off.

"Aura!" I shouted.

Lucario flicked his paw, a wind of aura blasting Banette away. Chandelure appeared, blasting a Flamethrower at him.

"Dodge!" I commanded.

Lucario disappeared, only to reappear above the Chandelure.

"Bone Rush!"

With a heavy slam, dust rose from the crater Chandelure was now in. Suddenly, vines broke through the concrete, rising above Lucario and slamming down over him.

"Lucario!" I yelled. With a howl, he broke through, jumping through the air, his gaze focused on the badly burned Trevenant Arcanine failed to fully take down. The Fighting type gritted his teeth and swung his body forwards, right foot set ablaze. Fire arced through the air as Lucario slammed his foot down on Trevenant, a blaze of fire blasting from the impact. Lucario leaped back, stomping a burned foot on the ground, mouth set in a grimace.

I smiled. "Guess we still need to work on that move."

"NO!" Dreadlocks screeched, backing up as he stared at the fallen Pokemon, Arcanine and Greninja finishing up his Mega Banette, his two cultist buddies following suit. "THIS CAN'T BE!"

Scizor appeared behind them, slamming his metal claws on their heads, knocking them out.

"No getting away this time," Clara smirked, taking a confident step forwards, then stumbling.

"Woah," I caught her before she fell, but she pushed me away.

"Get off," she growled. "I'm fine."

"You're not," I shook my head. "You're exhausted."

"I can't stop," Clara gritted her teeth. "Not until they all pay! I have to stop them all!"

"Looks who's having a breakdown now," I said softly and Clara turned her head sharply, glaring at me. "I will say this again."

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry for having dragged you into this whole mess. I know you're unlikely to forgive me, but I wish you would give me a chance to make up for what I've done."

I stood and dropped the Keystone I had took from the cultist. "Take it. I don't need it."

I went to walk away, but said, "Misfortune follows me wherever I go, that's what you said, right?"

I looked at her and smiled. "I like to think of it as me being brought to places I'm needed in order to prevent further misfortune. I mean, you can't defeat people like this all by yourself."

I began running, my Pokemon beside me as I left Clara behind with her thoughts.

...

"Damn it," Clara groaned as she picked herself up and stared at Zeno turning a corner, disappearing out of sight. "You never give up on others, do you."

She looked at her Scizor. "Make sure those cultists don't wake up. Keep hitting them if you have to."

Scizor nodded and she went over to return her Barbaracle to his pokeball. When she walked back over to Scizor, she sat against the side of a building, staring at the Keystone Zeno gave her.

"The bond we share with our Pokemon, it must be on equal terms. It can never be one-sided and once broken, it must be reforged."

"I like to think of it as me being brought to places I'm needed in order to prevent further misfortune. I mean, you can't defeat people like this all by yourself."

Clara leaned her head back and sighed. "How can you be like that to me, even after all I've done?"

...

I followed the mist, going to where it was the thickest. Soon, I had reached the river, where the trainers in Laverre City were pushing back the Cult. A cultist was slammed to the ground by a teen wearing a blue scarf, his Mega Charizard blasting back a Chandelure with draconic energy. A purple orb rolled to my feet, which was probably in the grasp of the cultist moments earlier. Raising my foot, I smashed it, purple smoke rising and disappearing from within.

"Zeno," Alain said, standing.

Before anything else could be said, the wind picked up. Purple energy was being sucked from the surrounding area, clearing the mist. It all converged on a single cultist who held an orb high above him, gathering the chaotic energy.

"Az Grothar Nith!" the cultist yelled and tendrils of energy lashed out from the orb, tightening around a nearby Dusknoir. It grew larger and larger, the mouth on its stomach widening as the yellow eyes turned dark. A crown formed around its head and the long nail lifted out of its head.

"That things larger than the buildings!" Alain exclaimed, shocked.

I grimaced, remembering the last battle I had against the same kind of monster. We only won due to Lucario going out of control and unleashing all of his aura. I looked at Lucario and knew that doing the same thing would ruin all the progress we've made so far.

"Moonblast! Fire Blast!"

The moves exploded against the giant monstrosity, Alex having commanded her Florges and Pyroar, the former probably having evolved earlier. Valerie and Robert were there as well, other trainers too busy with the remaining cultists to deal with this new problem.

"Charizard," Alain shouted. "Dragon Pulse!"

"Arcanine!" I yelled. "Lucario, Greninja! GO!"

Arcanine blew a blast of flames at the Ghost type, Lucario firing a metallic beam from his hands, and Greninja shooting several Water Shurikens. The combined attacks exploded against the Dusknoir, causing him to roar in anger. The giant nail floating above him multiplied and all five slammed into the earth in front of him, a shock wave rippling through the ground, ripping up the concrete. The river nearby surged upwards, dousing many in water.

"Dragon Claw!" Alain roared.

Dusknoir's one eye gleamed crimson as its stomach-mouth opened wider, unleashing a dark energy. It slammed into Charizard, slamming him into a building, a dust cloud rising. Alain's hand shot to his heart and his Keystone glowed. His Charizard was no longer able to help us fight.

Lucario stepped forward to engage Dusknoir, but he fell to one knee, his Mega Form disappearing. Our time had run out. Then, Dusknoir focused its attention on us. It raised a fist crackling with electricity and slammed it to the ground. I heard Arcanine bark at Greninja before rushing forwards with Lucario, blasting a Heat Wave and Flash Cannon. I felt myself get picked up by my Greninja as well as grabbing Alain and he jumped as the incoming electricity blasted through the Heat Wave and blasted Arcanine and Lucario back, who both tried to stop the attack. Greninja dropped us on the ground and I looked to see that Arcanine and Lucario had been sent down the street near Alex, Robert, and Valerie.

"Zeno!" I heard Alex yell, but I couldn't respond right now. Then Dusknoir turned to look at my two friends and the Fairy gym leader and their Pokemon.

"No," I reached out a hand, slamming it onto the cracked pavement as I hauled myself up to my feet. "NO!"

Something within me spiked and I felt a connection form. I wanted to run, to help, but I couldn't, not as a human. So Greninja did it for me.

"Save them!" I shouted as he ran. "Greninja!"

A cyclone of water surged into existence around him as he put himself between our friends and Dusknoir. A blast of electricity was drawn into the water, causing both Greninja and I to shout in pain, driving me to my knee.

"No," I thought. "This won't be enough to defeat us! Not when the lives of our friends are at stake!"

Greninja shouted with my thoughts, the cyclone of water bursting outwards, then drawn back in to form the black cloak around him. Large Water Shurikens formed on his upper legs and the blades on his arms and lower legs. He dropped to the ground, running low to the ground as he fired his extra large Water Shurikens. They zoomed up through the air, slamming into Dusknoir's head. The large nail flew through the air, heading straight for Greninja.

Suddenly, I was seeing through my Pokemon's eyes. There was no time to dodge. Only one thing left to do.

"Drive it into the ground!"

Greninja grabbed both the blades on his legs, extending and turning black as they were released, and drove them down in an X-motion. They slammed into the tip of the giant nail, driving it into the ground, the earth exploding with dust and concrete as Greninja was pushed backwards, slowing the movement of the nail.

"Into the air to dodge."

I could feel, hear, and sense whatever Greninja could. Our minds had connected on a level deeper than my bond with Mega Lucario. I could issue commands in my head and Greninja would act upon them not even a second later.

Greninja leaped into the air as a wave of dark energy blasted forwards. As Dusknoir swung a fist wrapped in shadows, Greninja forced the fist to move down with a burst of psychic energy. He landed on the fist and began running up Dusknoir's arm, tossing shuriken after shuriken. The Ghost type's single eye glowed black as a wave of ghostly energy struck Greninja and he began to fall.

I could feel the pain throughout me, my body now feeling weightless.

"C'mon," I closed my eyes, seeing a calm body of water in the darkness. "A single drop is all we need to create ripples."

Greninja shouted, the river exploding beneath him, surging upwards. Greninja landed on all fours on the rising water, shooting upwards. He leaped off of it, directing his webbed-hand at Dusknoir, the water obeying his command. It thundered against Dusknoir, forcing the Ghost to the ground. It began picking itself up, pressing both giant hands against the ground.

"Don't let up."

Greninja tugged off his cloak, tossing it down and it exploded with a torrent of water, Dusknoir roaring. Without his cloak on, I could now see that Greninja still looked different than normal. The fins around his head were sharper and angled more for slashing and on his back was a single shuriken. It expanded into a giant X, brimming with energy.

"Now end this!"

Greninja dived towards Dusknoir, the two blades on his arms shooting into his hands. He tossed them down and they landed on either side of the Ghost's face, exploding and unleashing a dark wind. Greninja shouted, grabbing hold of his giant X-Shuriken with both hands and slamming it down on the back of Dusknoir's head. It burst with a wave of water and energy and Dusknoir collapsed on the ground, growing smaller as purple chaotic energy was released from him.

I fell to both knees, suddenly realizing I was drenched in sweat. Greninja's bond form disappeared and he fell to both knees like me next to the fainted regular-sized Dusknoir. As Greninja fell forwards, blacking out, I did the same. Our exhausted bodies were shutting down, so all we could do was hope that the rest of the mess could be taken care of without us.

...

When I woke up in the Laverre City hospital, I was greeted by hugs from both Alex and Robert alike. Apparently I had been out for a whole 24 hours. The International Police had acted when they heard the news and reached Laverre near the climax of the battle. They arrested around three dozen Cult members, including the blonde guy I had fought at the beginning and Dreadlocks. There was another, but I was told it wasn't Sebastian. That meant there were still Cult members out there, plotting their next move. And the death toll...

I groaned as I got out of the hospital bed, Greninja doing the same on the bed near mine.

"You sure you're fine," Alex asked, concerned.

"Yeah," I smiled, and Greninja being stronger than me, caught me when I almost fell over.

"So," Robert pointed at Greninja. "Is that..."

I nodded as I put an arm around Greninja's neck to support myself, trying to ignore the sliminess of his tongue. "Yeah. I'll have to explain later. I don't even fully know how it happened."

I remembered that voice, asking for my help. The ancient white tree exploding with light.

"It was Xerneas," Valerie said, standing in the doorway of the hospital room. "She was the one who breathed life back into your Greninja."

She stepped softly into the room as if walking on air and held out her large sleeve to us. "To the three of you, for helping to protect their city."

On her sleeve were three shiny badges in the shape of fairy wings, decorated with gold and two shades of pink.

"Normally one would have to win a battle against a gym leader to receive one," she spoke. "But they can also be given to those deemed worthy by their actions. I only ask that you listen to Xerneas' pleas. She knew that you and that unique Greninja of yours would be needed one day for Kalos' future, so I will ask this of you three as well. Please, help save Kalos, just like you did for Laverre."

I grasped the gym badge. "Of course. We've come this far, so we won't back down now. Not when the people of Kalos need our help."

"Always," Alex nodded, then shuddered. "I saw many people die today. I don't want that to happen ever again."

"Same here," Robert took the badge, though I knew he took it more for a symbol of what had happened. "I will do what I do best to help Kalos."

"Good," Valerie said, smiling happily, eyes twinkling. "I know Xerneas will be happy as well."

"Who is Xerneas?" I asked.

"The Mistress of Life," Valerie said. "The Legendary Pokemon who protects all life in Kalos. Head to Dendemille Town. There seek the elderly woman in the northernmost part of the town. She'll be able to tell you more of Xerneas and of Yveltal as well."

She turned to leave and I had a feeling I wouldn't get anymore information. But, "Valerie, I have a favor to ask."

She turned her head and I asked, "Could you find a girl by the name of Clara Acord? She helped out in the battle as well."

The Fairy-like woman nodded. "Of course."

With that, she left.

I sighed, and now able to stand and walk by myself, I went over to the window overlooking the damaged Laverre City. "Everywhere the Cult strikes, disaster falls. And they're still out there, probably plotting their next move."

"If they're smart they'll stay hidden for a while," Robert said wisely. "But it's not just them. Don't forget about Team Flare."

"Right, that," Alex shook her head. "Apparently during the day when you had your battle with Alain and Valerie, Team Flare raided the Pokeball Factory. Stole pokeballs, precious data, and around a million dollars."

I groaned. "This isn't making me feel better you know. We even have Eve and her Team Radiance out there doing who knows what."

I heard loud running from out in the hall and I turned to see Jessie blasting into the room.

"ZENO!? ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? ARE YOU HURT!?"

"Fine," I managed to gasp under the pressure of her hug. "I'm fine."

"Let the kid breathe," James hit Jessie on the head and pulled her back. "How are you holding up kiddo?"

"Just fine," I wheezed, air now allowed back into my lungs. "Got banged up a little, but I can hold my own."

"As expected," James nodded and Jessie hugged me again, this time not as hard.

"Where's Meowth?" I asked, not seeing him completing the trio.

"He and Preston are looking after the house while we're away," Jessie said, stepping back.

"Oh, right," I remembered. "How is Preston doing."

"Adjusting still," Jessie laughed. "Should've seen the way he reacted when he saw us open the door."

"Priceless," James chuckled. "But he'll be fine. At least he doesn't have to deal with Jessie being there trying to cook something."

"Why you-!" Jessie began strangling him and my friends and I laughed.

I looked at Greninja and I could feel the connection between us there, waiting to be released.

"Now," I smiled and grasped his hand. "I can finally keep my promise to you. Once we get the last two gym badges, we can enter the Pokemon League. And we'll win for sure with the power of our amazing bond."

"Greninj," he agreed.

In that moment, I knew we could do it. We could do anything. Out there was evil, lurking in the shadows. But we won't back down and certainly won't let them win. Whatever was out there, we would all face it together.

I narrowed my eyes. "I'm coming for you, Chaos."

AND WE'VE REACHED THE MIDDLE OF LDOC! WOO-HOO! What an epic midseason finale chapter this was. Super long too, probably my longest ever. Man, I just went four days in a row, uploading a chapter on each day. Man was I hyped to write this, been waiting to write about Zeno's Greninja for the longest time now, probably for a couple years at this point, that was before I even began writing HBoD! I hope you all enjoyed this climatic chapter and further hope that you look forward to the next half of LDOC, where there will be another 41 chapters. A lot to do, but I'm up for the challenge if you all are as well! Let me know what you all thought of what I've wrote and I'll see you guys next update. Toodles!