Chapter 33: The Infernal Cult
Ash and the group leave the Nasca Cave as they are at the Murk Forest. Emily says, "Geez...this place is foggy...I can't see a thing."
"Yeah..." Ash says, but then they can't see anyone besides him. "Guys, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Gladion says, but then they hear screams coming from Nora.
"Nora!" Ash yells, but he can't find her since the fog. "Where are you?"
"Help! Brother!" They hear the faint scream, so they follow the noise until Ash feels something on the ground.
"A Spider Web?" Emily asks, just then, they are also being tied up with silk and raise into the air.
"Brother, everyone." Nora says as she sees them also being tied up.
"Great, now we can see everyone...but not in a good way." Taen says.
"So who did this to us?" Ash asks.
Just then, a yellow and black stripe spider-like Pokemon appears in front of them. "Is that a Delta Pokemon?" Gladion asks.
"A Persuado Legendary as well...Delta Metagross, Spider Form." Alice says.
"Spider form? There is a second form?" Ash asks.
"There is a Ruin Form as well." Taen says. "But I think that he is looking at us with hungry eyes..."
"Are we going to be spider's food?" Emily asks. "'Cause I don't wanna..."
Ash says, "We should negotiate with him." He turns to Metagross, who is murmuring. "Now who should I eat first..."
"I don't think you should do that, Metagross. We are members of the Timeless, if you eat us, you will face the wrath of the Legendary Pokemon."
"Is this a joke?" Metagross asks, not noticing that a human knows what he is talking about. "Because I don't buy it."
"Of how about you see me?" Arceus shows himself, much to the Pokemon's shock.
"Forgive me...I will release them at once..." Metagross panics as he quickly cuts the strings, freeing them.
"Metagross, why did you want to eat humans?" Arceus asks.
"They are evil, they turn me into a spider, now I couldn't eat metal because of them." Metagross says.
"Not all humans are, which is why we choose them." Arceus says, "How about you train under my chosen, with him, I can help you with the Mega Evolution as well as a form change."
Metagross is surprised that he could change its form, but he looks at Ash, who is smiling at him, he nods, so Ash captures him. And then Arceus changes his form as well so that he can switch it.
Delta Metagross Spider Form: The Tsuchigumo Pokemon: Bug and Ground Type. Rather than resorting to capturing prey using webs, it resorts to other trickery. Foes entering its domain may see it as a tiger, a demon, or a giant spider.
Delta Metagross Ruin Form: The Ruined Pokemon: Rock and Grass Type. After two altered Metang fuse into this Pokémon, all but the exterior of its body is composed of crystal. Additional crystals allow it to break free of its rocky shell.
"This is cool, a Delta Pokemon can switch into two Delta forms..." Nora says.
"And with the move Crystal Rush, he can also turn into crystal-like." Arceus says to them as they are in awe.
Ash welcomes the new Pokemon into the team, then they are finding a way to leave the Murk Forest.
After leaving the Forest, they finally reach the Hekate Town. Gladion says, "Hey guys, do you think it is strange?"
"What do you mean?" Alice asks.
"We have met Sky Cult, Perfection, Abyssal Cult, and then Darkrai Cult...but how come we didn't get involved in Infernal Cult?" Gladion asks.
"You are right." Nora says, "Not to mention that the prophecy says that one of us will join in the Infernal Cult..."
"This Infernal Cult is really mysterious..." Ash says. "Well...we will stop them whatever the threat they give to us."
As they walk by, they see some fire on the ground and Emily asks, "What are those?"
"Hekate Town is actually split into multiple clearings in the forest. These flames are portals that will take you from one part of the town to another." Taen says.
"How does it work?" Nora asks as Taen has no clue in answering that.
After going to the end of the town, they see a man panicking. Ash asks, "What's wrong?"
"There are Cultists in the Fiery Caverns, we can't be safe here..."
"Cultists? In the Fiery Caverns?" Alice asks.
"Then it must be the Infernal Cult..." Nora says, "We have to stop them."
Once they get into the Fiery Caverns, they find a lot of members of Infernal Cult inside the cavern. They all use Fire Types, Ash and his friends decide to split up to destroy the Cults.
Ash uses Mega Eevee and Delta Pikachu to defeat some grunts until they see a pedestal with the Meloetta Puzzle.
"That is the fifth one." Ash says as he turns around. "And there are Infernal Cultists... Torterra, Servine, Haxorus, I choose you." Ash says as the three Pokemon go to fight the Pokemon while Ash goes to solve the puzzle.
Once the puzzle is solved, Ash sees that both his Servine evolves into their final form.
Delta Serperior: The Ocean Dragon Pokemon: Water and Dragon Type. Evolved from Servine at LV:36. Though they viciously protect their domains from outsiders, they admire and welcome the company of trainers who brave the oceans to meet them.
"That is great, you guys." Ash says with a smile. Then he takes them and goes towards the further of the cave.
They finally find Nora, Nora says, "Brother, you come. I am glad to see you."
"Nora, are you fine?" Ash asks.
"I am fine. I am happy you're here, I was worried that I'd fight the leader myself. But now you're here, let's do it together." Nora says as they walk forward.
They see two boys talking. One is red and purple hair while the other one is pure purple.
"So you say that everyone was interpreting the prophecy wrong?" The red-haired boy asks, "What do you mean? Did you find out what it was really trying to say?"
"Yes..." The pure purple-haired boy says with a frown. "The heroes will defeat all the other cults just fine. But one of them will eventually betray them and join the Infernal Cult."
"That's...wonderful. And since the only candidates for the hero are that Rain-team Leader or one of those kids..."
"I don't think that they're going to be joining us willingly..." The pure purple-haired boy says.
"Exactly. Which means our gift is more powerful than we ever believed." The red and purple-haired boy says with a smirk.
Nora yells, "Zachary? Is that you?"
Zachary, the pure purple-haired boy gasps as he sees Ash and Nora.
"Nora...I..." Zachary stutters.
"What on earth is wrong with you? You were with us at the library when we heard that prophecy! You were supposed to be on our side! You told us how important that prophecy was- special information that the cults don't know! And now...you're just sharing it to the boss and Infernal!" Nora yells. "You betrayed us! We don't have our advantage anymore!"
The boss says, "Your advantage was gone long before that. If you don't know, my name is Zenith. And I am his brother."
This causes them to be shocked. Nora says, "You...were related to the boss of Infernal Cult?"
"I..." Zachary says with a whisper.
"You really should ask his last name." Zenith says, "After all, names are important. They have power. The chance of hearing that prophecy is the only reason my brother ever worked at that stupid library at all. Since his hair color is different than mine, he would be a good spy. When you guys showed up and that oracle finally appeared...every tiresome moment there became worthwhile when he finally heard him predict our victory."
"Screw your tiresome..." Zachary thinks. "I have to be bullied by you for days that they haven't come..." Arceus somehow hears the thoughts and then he frowns.
"And now..." Zenith says. "We don't fear children or any kind of prophecy. One of you will join us. It is foretold."
"We will never help you. You are crazy!" Ash yells.
"You act like you have a choice, but so be it. If you want a fight, then that's what you'll get." Zenith says as he sends out Blaziken. "Attack them with Sky Uppercut!"
Ash and Nora are shocked that the leader is going to attack them, but then they hear a voice, "Chandelure! Substitute!"
Two substitutes appear and then it blocks the attack, Ash and Nora are confused, they turn up and see that Zachary is using his Chandelure to protect them.
"Zachary?" Ash asks.
"Zachary, what is the meaning of this? Stay out of my way. I am close to killing them." Zenith says.
"And I won't let you harm them." Zachary says. "Especially Nora."
"Zachary?" Nora asks.
"Just because you are my brother, do you think that I have to listen to all your command. I am sick of all of this and I don't want to be a cultist anymore!"
"What?" Zenith is surprised. "What did you just say? Zachary, are you going to betray us?"
Zachary says, "I am not going to do this anymore, ever since I met Nora and the First Augur for the first time, I have decided to leave this cult. The reason I didn't leave is because of the prophecy."
After a silence, they hear Zenith laughing, much to their confusion. "Fine, you are always a rebel type. Which is why I wanted to get rid of you for a long time. And you think you can beat me? How foolish."
"I can't beat you alone, that is true." Zachary says. "But I can beat you with my partner! Keldeo!"
As the Pokemon is out, Ash and Nora are shocked. "Keldeo?" Ash says, "No way..."
Zenith is furious, his brother just has a Water Type Mythical Pokemon. "How do you get that Pokemon?"
Zachary says, "Didn't I tell you? I am also one of the chosen. My partner is Keldeo, and the only one who knew is Father."
"Father?" Zenith yells. "He was dead before we were even born!"
"But I am adopted...by the first Augur himself!" Zachary yells back. "Which means my full name is called Zachary Mark Ketchum,"
Ash says, "Wait, he is our adopted brother?"
Nora says, "I don't know...when did Dad adopt him?"
Zenith says, "Not only you betray us, but you also hide a Legendary Pokemon and you were even adopted to another family...You are just giving me another good reason to kill you."
"And you won't kill me." Zachary says. "With Keldeo, we can defeat your Pokemon no problem."
Then Zenith sends out a Magcargo, he also mega evolves it with the Mega Belt. Ash and Nora use their Pokemon to defeat his Excadrill, Chandelure, Blaziken, and Volcarona.
Keldeo changes into the Resolute form and then he uses the Secret Sword to defeat the Mega Magcargo.
"Hmph...not bad..." Zenith says to Zachary, who recalls his Keldeo and glares at him. "I'm kind of hoping it'll be you who ends up joining us..." He says to Ash. "But it turns out that in truth we lost a member. It is fine since one of you would still join us in the end."
"You..." Ash says.
"We have spent enough time stalling. I am going to show you exactly what we're capable of. Groudon! Duke of the earth! Rise! Show yourself to your loyal servants! I vocare immortali terra!"
Suddenly, the ground is shaking and then something rises out of the lava behind Zenith. Much to their shock, it is Groudon, like Kyogre, it was controlled by the Red Orb.
"The connection has been established." Zenith smirks.
"What? How...how did Groudon join you so easily?" Nora asks. "Where was the ritual? Where was the sacrifice?"
"Oh, the innocence of youth. You didn't come down here expecting us to catch Groudon, did you? You clearly haven't done your research on the Infernal Cult."
"What do you mean?" Zachary shares the same confusion.
"We were the first. It's only natural that we caught the legendary we worshiped long ago, I was merely waking him from its rest. Besides, I'll tell you a secret, little brother. The one who was used for the ritual...is our mother."
This causes Zachary to be in a state of shock as well as Nora and Ash. "You...used our mother for the ritual?"
"After all, she couldn't do anything, so she is used for the greater good." Zenith says.
"You monster! You are the reason why we become orphans!" Zachary yells as he tries to attack him, but Zenith dodges and jumps on Groudon.
"I am going in the mountains if you are still aching for a fight. I'll be waiting." Then the two of them leave.
"GET BACK HERE YOU MONSTER!" Zachary yells, but Ash stops him.
"Zachary, that is enough, at least that they retreated." Ash says.
"You don't understand, he killed my mother...only for that Pokemon...I have no one because of him..."
Nora says, "You have us." He turns to her. "Since Dad adopted you, which means that we are siblings now. We have each other."
Ash says, "She's right, you still have us, and we will be great siblings than that Zenith does."
Zachary nods as they decide to find others.
Here is a new chapter, I want to say that Ash's Metagross is a special one, he can choose two forms to battle, and I decide to split Zachary and Zenith into two different persons, and Zachary is the final member that is going to travel with Ash. I hope you like it.
