"This just in! A giant metal flower has sprouted from the ground in the middle of Geosenge Town, an act that has left the surrounding area littered with debris and overturned buildings!" The news lady held her hair back with one hand as the helicopter circled around the city, her cameraman filming the aftermath below on live TV. "It appears these red suit-wearing people are behind this, an organization under the name of Team Flare! What they plan to do with this flower is anyone's guess at this point! They also appear to be standing guard at the exits of Geosenge, using force to keep the residents inside the city!"

I grimaced as we all stared at the mini TV installed in the helicopter we were flying in, heading straight for the disaster zone.

"What's the International Police doing about this?" Alex asked, her voice coming through the crackly headphones we all wore.

"Their on there way like we are if they're not their already," Looker replied. "What the news doesn't realize is that Team Flare is actively holding back anyone trying to get into the town. They don't want us interfering."

"We can just fly in like this, right?" Robert sounded hopeful, but Looker shook his head.

"Not officially," Looker responded. "I'm being ordered to regroup with a squad outside the town. However, we'll have to fly over Geosenge first and then I can meet up with the rest of the IP."

Robert opened his mouth, looked confused, then shut it, nodding. "I see."

"We're nearing Geosenge Town," the pilot confirmed and I glanced to my left out the window, seeing the buildings below us. We began to descend and slowed. I nodded to my friends and we all tugged off our headphones and unstrapped ourselves from the seats. Once we came to a complete stop, hovering ten feet above the surface, I opened my door and jumped out, releasing Greninja at the same time. He jumped and caught me, getting me to the ground safely. He then leaned back his head, his tongue shooting towards the helicopter, wrapping itself around Alex, lowering her to the ground before doing the same for Robert. The door shut, but not before Looker gave us an unofficial thumbs up.

"Its them!"

We turned to see a group of six Flare grunts rushing towards us alongside their Pokemon.

"Ah," Robert nodded, already grabbing his pokeball. "The welcoming committee. How nice."

"Greninja," I held out my hand. "Water Pulse!"

"Vespiquen, Attack Order!" Alex shouted while Robert yelled, "Pin Missile!"

The combined attacks from Greninja, Vespiquen, and Chesnaught blasted the enemy back, creating a small explosion which covered them in a dust cloud.

"Let's get moving," I ordered, motioning with my hand and taking off at a run towards the center of town. I motioned with my hand towards the roof of a building and Greninja nodded, leaping onto it and following us from the rooftops.

"So what's our objective exactly?" Alex asked as we ran.

"Destroy the weapon at all costs before it activates," I answered. "If we can't do that, then we find where it's getting its power and destroy that."

I skidded to a halt as a woman came into view, standing in the middle of the road. A Team Flare admin. Just beyond her loomed the Ultimate Weapon, casting a long shadow over us.

"Grunts to the right," Alex warned, letting out Ninetales.

"Anyone else worried about how not worried we are?" Robert asked, sounding a bit worried.

"You are worried, don't worry," I said, letting out Corvisquire. "But not about fighting. About letting that weapon fire."

"Good to know," a heavy sound came from near Robert, indicating that he had let out his Snorlax.

"No chance you can let us pass?" I called over to the admin.

The woman smirked, putting a hand on her hip as her Liepard stepped forwards and crouched, snarling. "Don't count on it, Zeno. We're here to make sure you don't get any further. Then we can retreat to our bunker and watch the current world be burned away."

"So you guys all paid 5 million to get into Team Flare, correct?" Robert asked unexpectedly.

She looked taken aback. "Yes, of course. Only those with the money willing to do something about the world can get in. A way to sort out the riffraff I imagine."

"Then that means you're just a bunch of rich snobs who rely on their Pokemon to get the job done," Robert taunted, wagging a finger. "But once they're taken out, how will you stop us?"

The admin took an involuntarily step back. "I-I don't think we'll have trouble taking three kids out."

"That's where you're wrong," Alex smirked. "We're the three who saved Alola, remember? What's one small organization standing in our way to save the world?"

The woman clenched her teeth and thrust out her hand. "Liepard, attack! Dark Pulse!"

"Greninja!" I shouted. "Block with Water Pulse!"

Greninja leaped from the building, holding out the sphere of water in front of him, holding off the Dark Pulse for several seconds before it resulted in a mini-explosion. A split-second before the blast, Greninja leaped away, landing next to me.

"Corvisquire, Greninja," I said. "Pluck and Cut!"

Corvisquire swooped in on Liepard, plucking at her flank before flying high to avoid a counter-attack. Greninja, taking advantage of her momentary distraction flew past her, slashing as he went. Corvisquire made one last dive, driving his beak into her back. The Dark type collapsed and the admin took another couple steps back, looking less cocky than she had before.

I glanced behind me to see Alex and Robert's Pokemon faring well, finishing off the last of the grunts' Pokemon. Then the Ultimate Weapon's core of blue energy began to glow and blue pulses zapped outwards. I watched as tiny pebbles began floating into the air and my body tingled at the electric-like sensation rippling through the air. It disappeared once the pebbles fell back to earth and the pulses ceased.

"Okay," Alex rubbed her eyes. "What was that?"

"Energy displacement?" Robert guessed. "I believe the Ultimate Weapon is still storing up power, but some of it is leaking. My guess is if those power surges continue, they'll get stronger and begin lifting heavier things into the air. Namely us, our Pokemon, and the houses if they're foundations don't hold. The ones tipped over didn't seem to have very strong ones."

I saw the admin pale at this revelation. "Lysandre never said anything about this! Team Flare, back to the bunker!"

Pokemon were returned and the grunts began running Northwest, weaving between overturned houses with broken windows.

"C'mon," I said, hurrying over to the base of the Ultimate Weapon. "Robert, you're the tech expert. How do we disable or destroy this thing?"

"I don't think we can," he rapped on the weapon, then immediately pulled back his hand. "Okay, don't do that. I can feel my hair starting to stand up on end. I don't know if it would be wise to destroy this machine on the exterior. Who knows what could happen with the energy displacement."

"Then we have to go after the grunts to their bunker," I decided. "I'm sure that's where they have this weapon hooked up to the power source. Which should be Yveltal and the Frozen Light. If we disconnect it, crisis over, right?"

"In theory," Robert nodded. "It's the best plan of action we got, so we have to go with it."

"Then we should hurry before another power surge hits..." I trailed off, about to start running, then stopped. I looked around at the overturned houses and destruction. "Robert, can you tell me what the IP are doing?"

"Give me just a sec," he tapped away, then brought his head back up. "They're still outside the town, coming up with a plan of action. Apparently there's still members of Team Flare there. Maybe they weren't radioed about going back to the bunker?"

"Doesn't matter," I grimaced. "The fact that we don't see any residents doesn't bode well. The ones that could run likely did so already. Those who couldn't could still be in trouble."

"I can stay for that," Robert volunteered immediately. "They'll need medical attention and I'm not just able to provide aid to Pokemon. Both will be needed, I'm sure."

"Alex?" I looked at her, the question unasked.

"Of course," she nodded firmly, understanding clear in her emerald eyes. "I'll help Robert with the injured. Just," she gripped my hand. "Make sure to win and don't die. I know you can handle an evil team, but still..."

I placed my other hand atop hers. "Don't worry about me. You guys get your job done and I'll get mine. If the IP arrive, then feel free to come after me."

"Will do," Alex nodded and hurried after Robert who was already heading to one of the houses.

"Let's go you two," I said to Greninja and Corvisquire and we ran off after where we saw Team Flare leaving to. Making our way to the Northwest corner of town, I headed down on a path leaving the town and into the countryside. There seemed to be stone ruins farther along the trail, which was the only thing close to Geosenge to act as an entrance to a secret underground bunker.

"Fly ahead Corvisquire," I instructed. "Find that bunker."

He cawed and flapped his wings, a burst of air streaming behind him as he soared ahead of us. Once Greninja and I had reached the cluster of upright stones, the Flying type had perched himself atop one that had multiple stones placed together in a small house-like structure. Circling around it, I stopped when rock gave way to smooth metal. Another elevator, similar to the one back at Team Flare's HQ back in Lumiose.

I felt the wind shift and the grass around pointed away from Geosenge. I looked up to see the Ultimate Weapon pulsing energy once again and for the ten seconds it lasted for, I feared I was too late to stop it. Then it stopped and I breathed a sigh of relief. Focusing back on the elevator, I realized I would need a Key Card to get into it and I had no idea if I could break into it. Frustrated, I banged my hand on the doors and to my great surprise, they opened. The only thought that came to mind was that in their hurry, a member of Team Flare must have forgotten to lock it. Not wanting to doubt the good fortune that had blessed me, I stepped into the elevator. Greninja stood beside me and Corvisquire flew in to perch on my shoulder.

Seeing only two options on the button panel, I pressed the Down Button and the doors closed. The ride down was quick and smooth and I barely felt a jolt when we stopped. The doors reopened to reveal more than just a bunker. Computers were set up in rows, each one manned by a grunt or someone in a lab coat and glasses. Down a walkway with the Flare symbol painted upon it, it lead towards some stairs and a man with his back to me. His flaming hair like a lions mane as he stared through a window where I could only see orange glowing cables connecting to the ceiling inside the other room.

All eyes turned towards me as I walked down through past the rows of machinery, heading straight for the leader of Team Flare. My footsteps echoed, louder than the beeps and buzzing. I stopped at the foot of the stairs, staring up at him.

"Lysandre," I said, standing firm. "This ends now."

He glanced back at me, and for a moment, I could see pain and regret lingering in those eyes of his. Then it was gone, replaced by cold, unforgiving blue as he turned to face me, determined to see his plan through to the very end.

Not even half the length of the last chapter, but that's because what comes next I'm going to try and make as epic as possible. You people who've played the XY games know what I'm talking about. The climax of the Death Arc is upon us and if possible, I'll get it out tonight for a double update. More than likely tomorrow or the next day, but you never know. Because if I say one thing I usually end up doing the other. Well, till next time. Toodles