Chapter 29: Abyssal Showdown
Ash and his friends dive and arrive at the Abyssal Base, thanks to Alice who has some clothes for the Abyssal Cult, so they get into the base without being inspected, though some cultists are asking for the battle to train.
Once they are at the room where Audrey is in, those except Ash are bounced back.
"Huh? Guys? What's the matter?" Ash asks as he sees all of them on the floor.
"We were bounced off." Emily says.
"But why?" Nora asks.
"The force field..." Taen says as he touches it. "Only those who are chosen can get though...I think Audrey chooses you so she can settle the score with you."
"Then what about you guys?" Ash asks.
"I think we have better send some reinforcements and kick some ass." Gladion says.
"Brother, be careful." Nora says as Ash nods, then he rushes towards the stairs and sees Audrey and Kyogre, who is trapped inside of a sphere.
"..." Audrey turns around and faces Ash. "Did you know that 97% of the ocean is unexplored? It covers the majority of the planet, and we barely know anything about it. We know more about the moon than the seas of the Earth. What kind of awesome Pokemon could exist down there?"
She walks towards Ash. "Tell me, have you heard of the Hoenn Calamity? About 5 years ago, when Kyogre was first summoned by Team Aqua, the weather went wild. Tons of things were raised from the depths of the ocean. Most of it was unimportant. Bottles, shoes, maybe a few gems or pearls...and a rare, never-before-seen Pokemon. A squid that looked similar to Tentacruel, but with vastly higher stats. An evolution. One that only would occur in high water pressure. A Pokemon with stats that rivaled legendaries...and further research shows that there are hundreds of hundreds more."
"Are you serious?" Ash asks.
"Of course, this was kept hush-hush. It would be awful if everyone knew what creatures the oceans held. Everyone would be trying to catch these monstrosities, and with a good reason. Fortunately, it turns out these Pokemon aren't nearly as strong out of the ocean as they are in it."
"That doesn't explain why you want Kyogre." Ash says.
"Do you want to know why? It's incredibly powerful, and with a Blue Orb, it becomes one of the strongest Pokemon in the world. But do you know where its true talent lies? Kyogre is often considered as the deity of the sea, a real-life Poseidon. That's not an honorary title. Kyogre is the king in the most literal way. I am not sure how, but it has the power to control and command other creatures of the sea. Sure, having Kyogre would be great. But having an entire army of deep-sea Pokemon, all with the strength of legendaries...we would be undefeatable."
"She is insane..." Pikachu whispers to Eevee, who nods back.
"And now we have Lugia on the surface, creating a storm to cover the world. With the surface flooded, my army will be stronger than ever. Kyogre is slowly calling forth the first of my beasts from the ocean even deeper than where we are. One by one, beast by beast, the Abyssal Cult will grow stronger. I couldn't start until today. Not until I had a power source strong enough to power both Kyogre and Lugia."
She takes out the shard and Ash and Arceus widen their eyes. "The piece of the Jewel of Life..." Ash says.
"Indeed...I have a shard of the very same crystal that once powered the Augur. I've lost everything in pursuit of this goal. My life, my child, and more."
Ash says, "But that doesn't tell you to do this."
"So you've come to stop me? I'll take care of you now before the first creature rises. You won't stand a chance!" Audrey yells as she sends out her six Pokemon, Lanturn, Ludicolo, Alakazam, Kingdra, Mega Crawdaunt, and the Primal Form Kyogre.
"Everyone! Come on out!" Ash yells as he sends out Pikachu, Roserade, Snorlax, Charizard, Meganium, and Weezing. Ash mega evolves the Charizard, causing the weather to turn dark, and then he also uses the Z move Pulverizing Pancake to destroy Lanturn. Meganium uses Vine Whip and then Leaf Storm to knock out Kingdra, Pikachu's Acrobatics and Dazzling Gleam defeats Crawdaunt, Ludicolo is destroyed by Weezing's Air Slash, and then Alakazam is defeated by Lunar Cannon.
Kyogre is the only one left, but with the combined attack from the six, it eventually faints. All the Pokemon and Ash are sweating at the results, and then Audrey is shocked.
"Hmph, not bad..." Audrey mutters. "How embarrassing. I can't believe that I lost to you. It doesn't matter though. I can see the water stirring already. My army will soon rise. And then, Ash Ketchum, and then..."
"And then what?" Much to their shock, Malde, and Lillie, who have been infected by Deoxys, and tentacles are coming from her skin, teleport inside of the place.
"Lillie..." Ash is frightened that his love of life turns into a monster.
"W-who are you? How did you get in here?" Audrey asks.
"Your Alakazam faints. The barriers are gone." Malde says.
"Who are you...wait a second. Aren't you that man from Sonata Hills? The Leader's father?" Audrey asks. "I guess your treatment didn't go well."
"You couldn't be more wrong. I feel better than ever. I've been improved. Empowered...and I want the world to join me. I extend to you the same offer, Audrey. Forget this ocean army...join me. All I ask in return is that crystal."
"All you ask is-" Ash says.
"Are you insane? You want me to release the only thing keeping Kyogre in check? I don't know how you got down here, but you better turn your weird tentacle-covered tail around and leave. Now!" Audrey says.
"I want to help heal the world. You want to rule it. Our goals differ. You would not be of help to me. Having Pokerus is a most...illuminating experience. Things are revealed. You remember things that were...suppressed."
"What are you on about?" Ash asks.
"For example...this girl." Malde says. "She has the memory of a mother who abandoned her...of being raised by someone else because her mother chose Ultra Beasts over her."
"But Lillie, that is years ago, right now your mother is back! Right? You have to wake up!" Ash yells, but the Deoxys on Lillie then uses Psychic, causing Ash to crash into the wall.
"Ash!" Pikachu, Eevee, and the invisible Arceus rush to him. But he is out cold.
"She is not going to hand over the crystal. Take it, Lillie." Malde says as the tentacle on Lillie stretches and snatches the crystal.
"No, that's the only-" Before Audrey can finish, Kyogre is free and then it glares at Audrey.
"Kyogre! No! Get back! Don't move!" Audrey yells, but Kyogre just gets closer, his eyes show that he wants to kill this woman in front of him.
"Please..." Audrey starts to close her eyes, but then she hears, "Shaymin! Seed Flare!"
Just then, Shaymin lands in front of Audrey and protects her from the Origin Pulse.
"What?" Audrey is surprised that a Legendary Pokemon would help her. Then Damian and the rest, including Wallace and Carl are here.
"Mom, are you alright?" Damian rushes towards Audrey, then he yells, "Shaymin, distract Kyogre!"
Shaymin nods and he starts to lure Kyogre. Audrey widens her eyes, her son who is supposed to be dead... is in front of her.
"Damien?" Audrey asks in shock. "Is that you? You are alive this whole time?"
"Yeah, mom. It's me. Please, I don't want you to do this because of me..." Damian says as he hugs her. "I also thought that you-"
"Me too..." Audrey also returns the hug, then Damian says, "Mom, this isn't over. We're going to have a very serious talk. About everything. "
Audrey nods, but she faints. "Mom!" Damian grabs her before she falls into the ocean. "Hang in there..."
As for Wallace, he takes out the Blue Orb and says, "As a Chosen of the mighty Kyogre. I want you to calm down. There is nothing that can control you now. For the sake of our world, please."
Kyogre then struggles with the Blue Orb, but a Grass Whistle from Shaymin calms the Pokemon down and Kyogre closes his eyes.
As for the rest, Gladion is shocked to see Lillie. "What have you done to her, you bastard!"
"She is going to help me heal the world. And she won't be alone ever. Let's go, Lillie. We have people to help."
"Wait!" Gladion yells as he tries to grab Lillie, but Lillie just glares at him before she leaves with the teleport.
Alice asks, "What is going on here?"
Nora shakes Ash and asks, "Are you okay? Did Audrey hurt you?"
Ash holds his head and says, "Lillie...why..."
"Lillie hurt you?" Taen asks. "This doesn't make sense..."
Arceus says, "Malde uses the suppressed memory to blind her, making her our enemy. For Lillie, it was when Lusamine goes to research Ultra Beasts, and then Gladion leaves to be strong to protect Lillie, she was alone...and they use this to control her..."
Gladion hears it and frowns. "It's my fault...I shouldn't leave her..."
Emily says, "Get yourself together, Gladion. You can't do anything if you just blame yourself."
Wallace and Damian, who are taking care of the fainted Audrey. Wallace says, "We must get her to the Sonata Hills for treatment, then we will have to let her pay for her crimes."
The others nod as they quickly leave the base.
In the hospital, Carl introduces himself to Ash and he says that he is the chosen of Lugia. Lugia is freed from the control and it is with him now. Ash is relieved to hear it.
Hearing the news about Ash being attacked by Malde and Lillie, Harmony quickly helps Ash with the treatment as well as Audrey, even though she is a cult leader.
"That is seriously incredible...you actually beat a cult leader, and disbanded her cult." Harmony says. "You really are Augur's children."
"But I didn't save Lillie from her darkness..." Ash frowns.
"If whatever's affecting Malde is affecting her too, then I promise that we'll find a way to help her." Harmony says.
"Right now Tory has gone to the Perfection Base, but to ensure his safety, our leader also decides to go with him." Carl says.
"I've also been doing some research into the Pokerus Virus. And maybe I will tell Reukra about it and find a solution together."
"Does that mean you forgave Dad?" Taen asks.
"Not really, but you were back, there is no need for that grudge, but what he did to Dad is still his fault. The decisions dad is making...they're not his. It's the virus doing. Don't do anything rash, ok? I'll leave you here, I have a gym to run." Harmony then leaves.
Nora says, "Speaking of which, I think we can now go to Anastasia's Gym, she should be ready for us."
Ash nods a little. Damian says, "I am going to stay here..."
"Damian?" Alice asks.
"I won't leave my mom again...not until she wakes up." Damian says.
The others nod and then they go outside of the ward, leaving Damian, Alice, and Taen inside.
"How ironic, don't you think?" Taen asks.
"What do you mean?" Damian asks.
"You see, one of our parents are Cult Leaders, yet we try to stop all the cults."
Alice says, "You are right, it really is ironic."
"I'm really glad to see my mom all right..." Damian says, "I am really not happy with her for doing this...but...I don't want her gone, you know? Just...I know it's going to be hard."
"Me too." Alice says. "Even my Dad has lied in front of the crowd about saving the people, I also don't want him to be gone as well..."
"Just why should things be this complicated?" Taen sighs. "Oh well, we have better go, so um...see you?"
Damian nods as Alice and Taen leave the ward.
Back in the base, a person wearing like a Giratina is staring at the pool where Kyogre was held.
"...One down. The Mistress will be most pleased. The shards will return to us. Earth...it's almost time to come back to the mirror." Then he leaves like a shadow.
Here is the end of the Abyssal Cult, and this chapter is quite fun to write, I decide to mix the post-game and the storyline since after the league, I want to focus on the traitors and Ash's battles. As for Lillie, I found that Damian's past is similar to hers, so I use it to fuel her darkness and be controlled by the virus. I hope you like all of this.
