"So you arrived." Lysandre turned fully to face me, staring down at me. Behind him and through the glass, I could see the thick cables pulse with orange light. "Why do you persist so? Can't you see what this world has accomplished? Overpopulation, strife, pollution. I mean to end all that and yet someone like you stands in my way."
"Those are noble wishes," I admitted. "But how you choose to go about achieving all of that is wrong. As someone who has seen the dark side of this world for too long, I know where you're coming from. That's why I can't allow what you're doing," I gritted my teeth, barely withholding my rage. "Do you even know how many innocents you will end up killing!?"
Lysandre's shoulders shook slightly and a couple tears rolled down his cheeks. "I do, Zeno. I know there are good people out there. I know of all the wonderful creatures known as Pokemon that have nothing to do with this," He dried his face with one hand. "I regret that only the ones in Team Flare shall survive, but it must be done."
He reached into his suit and withdrew a pokeball. "And that is why I will stop you myself. I will do what I must to ensure that Team Flare succeeds and the Ultimate Weapon fires."
I closed my eyes, gripping both fists. "As much as I would love to fight you here, I can't do that."
I swung my arm, launching Corvisquire towards him. His wings glowed as he slammed one into Lysandre's chest, knocked him to the ground. Greninja and I rushed forwards, spotting a door to our left. Not willing to take any chances, I shot out my hand as we ran. "Water Shuriken and Drill Peck!"
The door exploded inwards and I rushed down the white stairwell, nearly falling while doing so. Greninja caught me and we kept going. Along the way, we passed several doors. One of them made me stop as I stared through the small window into what looked like a hospital room. Laying on a bed was a Chespin, radiating green light while hooked up to a machine. Two people sat with their backs to me, the taller of the two placing a hand on the shorter one's back. My mind registered the blue scarf, but I shook my head and continued down the stairs. Whoever that was and why I recognized it could come after I destroyed the Ultimate Weapon.
I skidded to a halt, a large square door in our way. It was colored a deep red, the Flare symbol painted front-and-center. An electronic keypad sat on it on the left and I gritted my teeth. Of all the times not to have Robert. I slammed one fist on the door, knowing it would have been made to withstand a large blast, which would mean a lot of heat. So melting it wasn't an option.
My eyes widened as I got an idea. I turned to my Pokemon. "Keep Team Flare at bay if they try to come and stop us. I only need a couple minutes at most."
I dug out my Holo Caster and prayed that it would work this far underground. It only showed a fuzzy blue screen for a second before the person I was trying to reach picked up.
"Hello?" Clemont asked, confused. "Oh, Zeno. How are-"
"No time Clemont," I cut him off and pointed the device at the lock. "Can you hack this from where you're at?"
"Um," he rubbed the back of his head. "Maybe?"
"I'll take that," I said hurriedly. "Can you please try. And hurry. There's not a whole lot of time."
There were voices in the background and I recognized Ash, Serena, and Bonnie's. Then Ash's became the loudest. "You're in Geosenge Town!?"
"Yeah," I nodded, but they couldn't see me as I was still pointing the camera at the lock. "I can shut down this whole crisis, I just need to get through this door."
"Hold on," Clemont said, sounding nervous as the sound of quick typing could be heard. "This is a bit difficult. Actually being there might be a lot faster, but I don't know how long this could take."
The hologram flickered before a second person entered the call, making Clemont's image slightly smaller. "Should be less now that I'm here."
"Robert!?" I exclaimed. "Is everything taken care of up there?"
"Mostly," I heard Alex's voice as Robert and Clemont continued to type furiously. "IP has finally gotten in and are helping with the wounded and are currently trying to head into the bunker. Team Flare must not want us in there because they rushed out the moment we got within 50 feet of the stones."
I heard a small explosion behind me and looked to see Greninja in a fighting stance as Flare Admins were hurrying down the stairs with their Pokemon, Lysandre among them.
"Yeah, they don't like me being in here as much either," I said. "You two done!? I don't got a whole lot of time here!"
"Hold! On!" Both grunted and suddenly the lock clicked and the doors hissed and began opening.
"Thanks!" I began backing up into the room. "Close it behind me!"
"Is that safe!?" Alex shouted, but I yelled, "DO IT!"
I dropped the Holo Caster and quickly pulled out both pokeballs and returned Greninja and Corvisquire before the doors could close. Just as I saw Lysandre coming to the doors, they closed.
Robert's voice was fuzzy. "I changed the lock, but they should be able to hack their way in soon enough. Hurry Ze-!" The Holo Caster shut off and I was left alone in this semi-dark room. I was made all too aware of the faint thrum of noise around me, thick cables connected to the wall around my feet all leading behind me. I turned to see a large machine in the middle of the orange-lit room with something that looked like a large decayed cocoon sitting atop of it. More cables originating from the sides of this machine linked upwards to where I assumed they connected to the Ultimate Weapon.
"Xerneas is a tree," I stepped forward. "And you're a cocoon, Yveltal." I grimaced, not knowing how to go about this. There was no visible control panel and if I destroyed the cables, I could end up hurting Yveltal.
I glanced behind me. They weren't through the door yet, which was good. But Robert was right. I didn't have enough time to figure things out. I had to act now.
I released Greninja. "I need you to cut those cables feeding the Ultimate Weapon."
He nodded and readied his shurikens. He moved his webbed fingers and one more appeared in each hand. He crouched, narrowing his eyes. With a flick of his wrists, the four Water Shurikens flew through the air, each one slicing the cables. With large blasts of sparks, they swung outwards. Greninja grabbed me and moved me back to the door to avoid the worse of the sparks. The room dimmed and flickered as only the sound of sparks could be heard.
Then, a sharp cry echoed throughout the room. Red light shone through the cracks of the cocoon as a red field of energy surrounded him. He began to unfurl himself, two large hand-like appendages curling out, the skin pulsing red with black lines extending from both arms to the head. A third similar appendage stretched out behind him and he opened his mouth to cry out, a sound that sent shivers running down my spine. He rose on two clawed feet, blue eyes homing in on Greninja and I. Dark grey fur around his neck wafted behind him like smoke and when he flapped his wings, he rose into the air a little, his body forming a Y-shape. His presence seemed to have its own aura, one that filled the room with the feeling of death and darkness.
"The Destruction Pokemon," I said in awe, but with also a deep feeling of foreboding. I had just disconnected the Ultimate Weapon to its Power Source, correct? I had saved Yveltal, but did he know that?
Suddenly, Greninja kicked me in the chest as he leaped backwards, a beam of dark red energy blasting against the door where we had been standing. Yveltal gave another cry, choosing to focus his attention onto me. He flapped his wings, a large hurricane of wind and sparks forming in front of him, cascading down on me.
I slammed a hand on the ground, focusing, stretching my mind and my emotions. Greninja leaped in front of me and I felt a snap and a column of water erupted around him, wild and uncontrolled due to the lack of concentration. This was what we needed however as both wind and water collided, Greninja holding his own for a couple seconds before being blasted against the wall.
"C'mon," I gritted my teeth, standing as I could feel the strain on our connection. "We can do this! Greninja!"
He yelled and the water burst before being drawn back in to form his cloak and water-based weapons. His red eyes flashed and I turned to look at Yveltal. "I saved you! You're free to leave this place! There's no point in fighting!"
Whether it was from confusion or just his nature, Yveltal flapped his wings to drift higher, a wave of darkness spreading from him. I swung my hands in an x-motion, Greninja copying my motion with twin blades of darkness, interrupting the attack. The rest of the Dark Pulse hit the room on all sides, cables flying about as well as sparks. Greninja held himself over me, the sparks bouncing off his cloak. I could feel several hit his skin, stinging me as it was him.
"Water Shuriken," I said through gritted teeth and Greninja leapt away, flinging the shurikens at Yveltal, each one hitting him in the head. Despite Greninja being in his Bond Form, I knew we were severely outmatched as Yveltal only swung his head to clear the droplets.
I swung out both Corvisquire and Mawile. "Greninja, keep on the offense! Mawile, boost your defense with Iron Defense! Corvisquire, fly in and out with Drill Peck!"
Yveltal, focused on Greninja, narrowed his eyes and his body began glowing blue. Corvisquire's attack simply bounced off of him without a reaction as well as Greninja's Water Pulse. Then the Legendary Pokemon zoomed forwards, smashing Greninja in the wall. I stumbled back, holding my chest with both arms, groaning at the sensation.
"Cut and Double Team," I hissed through the pain and Greninja managed to free himself from Yveltal's grasp and multiplied himself by a dozen. Yveltal flew backwards, turning faster than I could utter a command, grasping Corvisquire in one claw. His body pulsed red and a beam of dark red energy slammed into Corvisquire head-on.
After a couple seconds, I managed to return him to his pokeball, having seen the life beginning to drain from him. Yveltal, who may have been injured before, was now looking much healthier. Mawile stepped forwards, nodding at me.
"Mawile," I thrust out my hand. "Sucker Punch then Play Rough!"
Mawile leaped forwards, slamming her back jaw into Yveltal's chest, then proceeded to bash him with all her limbs. Yveltal's eyes glowed pink and a similar colored aura surrounded Mawile and flung her away. The Legendary cried out as Greninja brought down a large shuriken on his back before leaping away as a beam of life-sucking energy blasted by, carving into the metal walls.
"We can't stay in here," I realized. "He'll bring everything crashing down on us!"
Then the room began to shake, sparks flying. I heard a buzzing sort of noise, then the weight of something huge being blasted.
"The Ultimate Weapon," I cast my gaze upward. "Did it fire?"
I blinked and backed away, returning Mawile. "Greninja, we need to get out of here!"
Already having assessed my emotions, Greninja was by my side in an instant as we sprinted for the door. Already bent and cracked, all we had to do was stand in front of it and leap aside, Yveltal's attacks crumpling it. We ran for the stairs, Team Flare nowhere in sight. Then the explosion hit.
I heard the room collapse behind us and Greninja turned around, whipping his cloak off. It expanded to cover us, blocking some of the explosion. Greninja turned and wrapped me in his arms, shielding my body as the blast knocked us away and sent me into darkness.
...
I coughed, blinking. My ears were ringing and vision hazy. Smoke drifted past me and I coughed again. I struggled to shaky legs, seeing that the way we had come from was now nothing but rubble. I glanced back to see the white decor scorched black, but mostly undamaged. The way up was still clear thankfully. But the damage should have been more vast...
"Greninja," I wanted to shout, but my voice was hoarse. I looked around me to see Greninja lying a couple feet to my right. He was burned and his breathing ragged, but he was alive. Fumbling for his pokeball, I returned him and began stumbling up the stairs. For what seemed like ages I climbed, but soon I reached the top to see the control room void of Team Flare. Making my way into the elevator, I punched the Up Button and was at the surface in no time.
I stepped out to see blue skies and a gentle breeze. I fell to both knees, relieved that the world was safe. Then I heard Yveltal's disturbing cry and I turned my head to look back at Geosenge Town. Smoke rose from where the Ultimate Weapon had been and the Legendary Pokemon of Destruction rose above it, flapping his large wings as he blasted the ground with the crimson energy beam.
I cursed, struggling to continue on. I didn't believe my wounds were fatal thanks to Greninja, but they were still slowing me down. Something wiggled on my hip and a pokeball burst open, Arcanine appearing in front of me. He woofed and knelt low, offering me his back. Smiling, I gripped his fur and tugged myself on him. He stood and once he made sure I had a tight enough grip, took off for town. We burst back into the city in time for another beam of energy to rip a trench of dirt into the ground, splitting an overturned house in two.
"Zeno!" I heard someone yell and I could hear running. I tried to lift my head, but felt a flash of pain. Trying to think through the fog in my mind, I wondered if my wounds were worse than I had originally first thought.
I heard, no felt, something coming as I was being pulled off my Pokemon's back. Gritting my teeth, I croaked, "Arcanine. Protect them!" then I slumped as I felt darkness overtake me once more.
Arcanine howled and slammed both feet forward, a wall of heat blasting against the beam of energy aimed directly in our direction. Arcanine then ran forwards, accelerating as he did so. He leaped and bounced off the side of a house, spinning into a wheel of flames. He slammed into Yveltal, bringing both Pokemon crashing to the earth. He dug his teeth into one of his wings and pulled with all his might, hefting the Legendary Pokemon of Destruction into a building. It groaned and collapsed, making Yveltal cry out in pain or fury.
With an explosion, he rose back into the sky, slicing the air towards Arcanine. The Fire type crouched and rocketed forwards, avoiding the attack. He opened his maw and blasted Yveltal with a jet of flames, causing the Legendary to turn and soar towards Arcanine, both Pokemon weaving through the town. Putting on an extra burst of speed, Arcanine sped out of Geosenge and towards the rocky hill that housed Reflection Cave. He zoomed up the mountain without needing a trail and came to a stop on a flat piece of rock overlooking Geosenge.
Yveltal, having followed the Fire type, hovered 50 feet away at the same eye level, meeting Arcanine's gaze. The Legendary Pokemon, not Yveltal, bowed his head, feeling the Destruction Pokemon's inner turmoil as his thoughts were clouded with confusion. He backed up, crouching in preparation to run. Yveltal's body glowed blue as he spread his wings, eyes glowing bright. Arcanine sprang first, sprinting full tilt. Yveltal roared, soaring forwards as air streamed off his body. Flames sprung from Arcanine's fur, sharpening itself into a point, an arrow of fire. He leapt from the edge of the staggering drop below, blazing straight for Yveltal. The Destruction Pokemon surged onwards and the two Legendary Pokemon collided in a devastating explosion of fire and wind. The shock waves rippled through the air, blowing back trees and shaking the stones outside of Geosenge. A single howl filtered through the explosion and was followed by silence as only destruction remained.
An epic finale to the Death Arc. Zeno is injured to an unknown degree and Team Flare's plan to use the Ultimate Weapon has been demolished. With the crisis averted, Zeno, Alex, and Robert can focus on the remainder of the journey that lies ahead of them that will ultimately lead them to the Kalos Pokemon League. Thus we enter the Kalos League Arc. We're still no closer to ending this book, so be prepared for the surprises I have in store for you all. Till next time. Toodles
A single man stood in front of the ruins of the Ultimate Weapon, having been fired upon itself. Despite his massive size, he seemed to be unnoticed by the International Police and various reporters. His ragged clothes and scraggly white hair indicated he didn't take care of himself and he seemed to be lost in thought as he stared at the weapon he had once created. Closing his eyes briefly, he turned and walked away, as if never there.
