Melting Gelid Roses

by EchoEternal

Slash-fic, M/M. AU, just Pokemon. From the north, reports of the prophet run rampart, and whispers of war are growing louder. A knight and a ninja will slowly find themselves in the heat of things. Main Shipping: Sneakpast (Greninja/Chesnaught).

25. The Impossible Happens

...

---

[Inner City Border]

Blocks of stone and ice sail through the air, as Froslass flings them back and forth from another pile of ruins. Malamar groans and taps a tentacle against his head.

"How the hell could she have maneuvered around these debris piles so quickly?" He folds his tentacles and glares as Froslass casts more rubble aside. "Well?! She's your ally, explain!"

"Weavile is fast and knows how to find vantage points." Froslass tosses another brick away as Malamar throws his tendrils up and spirals away. "She can hide when she needs to recuperate."

"And you should know how to find her quickly!"

Malamar pauses and blinks, and then slowly turns back to Froslass. He narrows his eyes as she tosses away two icy blocks.

"…Shouldn't you?"

"She knows how to evade what I could plot," divulges Froslass. "She and I planned on different ways to stopping me, because I always worried about betraying her with witchcraft."

"My, my…you've been quite damaged, even before I got to you," observes Malamar.

"Between that and general paranoia that bury under a false bravado of confidence and spirited joy."

"Huh." Malamar blinks and tilts his head. "Was that a pun?"

"Maybe not completely false at times."

"Ugh." He shakes his head. "Keep digging."

Froslass continues to shift the debris away from the rubble, as Malamar supervises her progression. He eyes the surrounding environment every so often, checking for any signs of movement from the broken buildings.

Several mounds away from them, Weavile crouches low behind stone piles, and quietly pants as she catches her breath. Inhaling deeply, she holds it for a moment, swallows, and exhales. Her claws slowly trace bricks and ice around her, as she studies her enemies across from her.

Sinking back, she shifts around the iced stones near her, and quietly crawls around them. Slight crunches of snow are lost under the tossing and dropping ice bricks from her friend, masking her movement.

She repositions herself behind a wall of rubble, and crouches beneath an opening for a missing window. Her claws again run against an icy stone, tracing it gently as her hand covers it. This time, Weavile picks it up, and slowly lifts herself to the opening.

Glaring at the pair in the distance, Weavile scowls at Malamar, and her grip against the rock tightens. Her eyes shift to Froslass next, and her grip relaxes, as she watches her friend toss the blocks aside. She feels at another stone, a bit lighter than the one in her hand.

A faint gust of wind brushes past the debris.

Narrowing her eyes, Weavile lobs a rock through the window, as it sails across to Froslass.

As it nears her, it instantly drops from the air and to the ground. Malamar lowers his tentacle, and turns to Weavile.

"Grab her," he commands Froslass. "Bring her to me."

Racing from his side, Froslass soars after Weavile, who scowls as she ducks back down, and vaults over wreckage, sprinting from the area. One last ice block catches the tip of her foot.

Weavile stumbles as she regains her balance, running from her ghostly friend. She races away past a crumbled statue, as Froslass flies behind her, quickly closing the distance.

Twisting around, Weavile backpedals for a moment, slipping on the road, as she stares at Froslass. She spins around and hurries along, Froslass still gaining on her.

With a wild laugh, Froslass forces herself forward, and whips her hand out at Weavile. Shadows emerge from the ground beneath her, and grasp at Weavile's legs.

They snap Weavile down to the ground, and she collapses, slamming hard against the icy pathway. She slices the shadows with her claws, and quickly drags herself back as Froslass descends upon her.

"My dear friend, it's no use." Froslass opens her arms, and giggles. "Just embrace this ending. I won't even have to be the one to kill you, and it keeps your curse in tact until the end." She lets out a shrilly, wicked laugh. "Won't that be nice?"

"Please, Froslass, fight him!" Weavile crawls back. "This can't be you. I won't let you stay like this."

"Oh, I'm sure it won't." Froslass tilts her head, chuckling. "Malamar will likely kill me after he does you." She grins. "So, see? We won't be apart long after all!"

"Don't…Froslass, don't make me…"

"Come here," instructs Froslass, reaching out, "embrace me, and embrace the end."

She scoops up Weavile, wrapping her arms around the weasel's body. Weavile's eyes widen as Froslass lifts her, and gazes into her possessed purple eyes.

Pulling back on her arm, Weavile slams her second stone across Froslass's head, and both drop to the ground.

Gasping, Weavile jumps up and scrambles to Froslass's side, her friend sprawled on the ground.

"Froslass, come on," pleads Weavile, picking up her friend's hand. "Don't…don't be…"

Stirring with a groan, Froslass pulls her hand back, and reaches for her head. She rubs where she was hit, and wipes blood away from her face.

"What in the…" She blinks, and Weavile grins at her blue and yellow eyes. "Weavile, are you ok? How'd…?"

"It's ok, we're fine," insists Weavile, and she tightly hugs her friend. "I can't believe something that simple worked!"

"You're…hurt," notices Froslass. She pulls back from Weavile. "Why are there cuts all across…?" Froslass's eyes snap wide open. "That…that son of a bitch."

"Fros—?"

"He made me do this to you." Froslass backs away from Weavile, and studies her body. "That bastard…!" She flies back over to Weavile, tracing the wounds on her friend. "Oh…oh gods, I…Weavile, I—"

"No worries," persists Weavile. "Let's just get ourselves—"

"Take a minute if you want," decides Froslass. She lifts from the ground, as wind rushes from around her. Her eyes glow under a bright yellow light. "I'm going to kill him."

"Uh." Weavile steps toward her friend. "Look, he's an evil jerk, but maybe we should consider—"

"No, I'm going to kill him for hurting you, and making me the one to do it."

Before Weavile can protest any further, Froslass soars off, flying back to the ruined buildings. Malamar sways as he watches her descend upon him, and folds his tentacles as she lands, noticing that she's alone.

"Aren't you missing a certain someone?" He glares at the ghost, but drops his glower as she lifts her head to fire one back at him. "…Impossible…"

"Very possible."

Malamar floats back, and spins into the air, while Froslass chases him. He pulls back on his arm, and casts a thunderbolt, which she spirals away from.

"How did she release you?!" Malamar launches another bolt, and Froslass sways from it. "You were firmly under my control!"

"Hasn't anyone ever tested breaking out of it on you?" Froslass aims her arm, with a blue wind wrapping around it. "Guess not, but I don't really care."

Rotating her arm around, a vortex flows from Froslass and whips up around Malamar. He yells as it swings him around and tosses him back down below.

As Malamar falls, he lifts a pile of snow to meet him. Froslass, however, forces it to break apart and crumble, leaving the squid with little to catch him.

Crashing hard against the icy ground, Malamar forces himself back up. His eyes glow under a pale blue light, as the stones rise around him.

He casts one at Froslass, who strikes it away, and lobs another. She bats the second aside, but quickly grabs it and launches it back at him.

Another brick moves in front of Malamar, and blocks Froslass's counter. Malamar chuckles, and raises his tentacles. Thrusting them forward, each of the stones are telekinetically thrown at Froslass.

She scowls as she sways past the barrage, looping around one icy stone and spiraling past the next two. Ducking and rising up to evade others, she flies at Malamar, red bolts crackling around her arms.

Drifting back, Malamar breaks from his concentration, and pivots through the air from Froslass. She swings her arms to strike, and lands a punch against his face.

Grabbing him next, Froslass throws Malamar from the sky and back to the ground. She swipes at the air beneath him, cutting away the snow he attempts to use for breaking his fall.

A heavy slam quakes beneath Malamar, and he groans, dragging himself back, as Froslass descends upon him. He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut and opening them, as he gazes upon her dark energy.

"You're still using that blood magic…?"

"Yeah." Froslass dabs a bit of blood from the diamond hole on her head, and rubs it between her fingers. "You finally pissed me off enough for it."

"But—"

"Yours is running low to empty," taunts Froslass. "I know."

Spreading her hand open, Froslass forces it up, as an icy hand bursts from the snow beneath Malamar. She squeezes her hand shut, as the snowy hand does the same around the squid, and he shouts out in pain.

Bolts dance around Froslass's arm, and she tightens her grip, crushing Malamar within the trap.

With her free hand, Froslass crafts a purple wind around it. Whipping it back and forth, gusts form and slash against Malamar, cutting into him as they form and fly at him.

"Stop with the whining," orders Froslass. "This witch is just getting started."

Lifting her free hand under a blue glow, she opens it, and icicles form in the air. Waving one finger, an icicle sails down and slices at Malamar, cutting into one of his tendrils. Froslass waves another, as it follows the first, and Malamar cries out.

Tightening her fist again, Froslass smirks as Malamar gasps from the snowy hand's tightening grip on his body. She spreads her other hand's fingers apart, and the icicles rear back.

"Froslass, stop!"

Weavile rushes from her side and stands in front of Froslass. She reaches out to her friend and grabs onto her arms.

"This isn't you, ok? We've won, he can't do any more harm—"

"He already did more than enough," snaps Froslass. "Look at me—look at you!"

"And I'm all right!" Weavile moves her hands up to Froslass's head. "Please, we've already defeated him. You don't need to do this to yourself."

Her eyes waver, and Froslass gazes at Weavile, slowly relaxing her grip. Steadily, she drops both of her arms.

With a gasp, Malamar falls to the ground, and smacks on the ice. He coughs and chuckles, pushing himself back up.

"Finally."

Malamar whips his tentacles out and lashes forward with one, striking Weavile's back. She yelps out as he pulls his arm back in, and whips his other tentacle, shooting a bolt of lightning at Froslass.

A red light flashes in her eyes, as Froslass lifts her hand in a point. Sparks flow around her fingertips, and she brings the lightning into her.

Channeling it through her body, the electricity crackles across her, and Froslass cups her arms in together. Pointing back out with her opposite hand, she casts the lightning back out from her, firing it back at Malamar.

Its speed doubles back to him quickly, and strikes him back to the ground. He groans as the bolts jolt up and down his body. Clamping his beak shut, he tries to force himself up and spirals in the air. His balance is lost, and he collapses on his body.

"Not here, no, I refuse to let this be the end," he hisses. Malamar lifts his sharp tentacles back up, and his eyes light in a fuchsia light, with psychic energy bursting across them. "There's still so much work left to be done. There's so much to prepare for." He glares up at Froslass. "I won't miss it! Do you hear me?! This will not be the end for me!"

Psychic blades form on his tentacles, and Malamar rises up. Too late, he spots Froslass's raised arm, and watches it fall.

A large icicle soars down from the sky and pierces straight through Malamar's body. He gags as it drags him back to the ground.

Watching for a moment, Froslass shakes her head and drifts to Weavile, helping her up. She turns back, winces at the sight, and returns her attention to Froslass, who looks away from her.

"We really didn't want to leave any remnants from him," asserts Froslass. "This severs his connections outright and entirely."

"Yeah." Weavile sighs, and drops her head. "I just…I did the same earlier, so I was hoping to spare you…"

"There is far, far worse that I've done," admits Froslass. She wraps her hand under Weavile's face and cups it gently. "Saving my best friend is the better price to pay."

"Fros…"

Dropping her arms aside, Froslass drifts away from Weavile. She faces the palace, not far from where they are.

"If we hurry, we can help the others," she determines. "They might need us."

"Provided we're not too late," murmurs Weavile.

Lifting her arms, Froslass holds them open and waits a moment. Her eyes narrow as she concentrates, a blue aura lighting them.

Her Icicle Staff and Weavile's dagger fly through the air, slowing as they near Froslass. She grabs them on their approach and passes Weavile the blade.

"We'll make it." Froslass softly smiles. "Follow me."

She flies off from the broken border houses, and along the path to the palace. Weavile lets her shoulders fall, and sheathes her dagger. Closing her eyes for a moment, she snaps them back open and hurries after Froslass.

---

[Palace's Main Hall]

Back behind the staircase and near the frozen door to the throne room, Golduck sinks down and slumps against the wall. He heaves and holds himself close together, struggling to steady his breathing.

"Where…are you…?"

Heavy stomping forces Golduck to suck in his breath. His heart hammers as he waits a moment. The hefty footfall quiets after a minute, and his shoulders drop.

"You know there aren't actually many places to hide in this hall," calls Abomasnow. "And I've cut off most exit routes by freezing most of the ground level."

Abomasnow rounds the corner and Golduck drags himself from the wall, backing away from the general. He chuckles as the knight scrambles away, and merely returns around the corner to the other side, as Golduck stumbles on the opposite side.

"There is nowhere to run," reiterates Abomasnow. "Golduck, why are you bothering to run away?" He laughs. "Is that all you've ever known how to do?"

"Piss! Off!"

Still holding himself together, Golduck dashes behind a crumbling column, and rests against it, panting. He scans the available hall around him for his sword, but fails to find it.

Plucking a knife from his belt, Golduck lifts it up and holds it as his arm trembles. Hissing a bit, he lowers it and clutches it within his fist.

Poking his head from around the pillar, Golduck looks to find Abomasnow missing. His heartbeat quickens as he slides back behind the column, and searches from the other side, not finding Abomasnow there either.

Golduck is thrown forward as the pillar bursts from behind him, and he smacks down against the icy floor. Groaning, he twists around to find Abomasnow pulling back his fist, a turquoise glow fading from his arm.

"Surprise."

He alternates to his other arm, throwing forward a glowing fist at Golduck. It slams him against the ground, and Golduck wails out.

Laughing, Abomasnow pulls back on his arm, rotating it around. Golduck writhes below him, barely managing to pull himself away by a slight distance.

"Pathetic." Abomasnow ambles after Golduck, catching up to him almost immediately. "Look at you, so frail. Such a far cry from what you used to be…"

Jumping from the floor, Golduck stabs his knife into General Abomasnow, digging tightly into his chest. He forces his hand as far as he can push it in.

Punching his back, Abomasnow smashes Golduck into his body, pounding him against his chest. Puffing himself out, he knocks Golduck back to the ground.

"Are you serious?" Abomasnow flicks the knife from his body, wiping his new wound. Frost coats him once again. "You'll get yourself practically killed for an attempt at stabbing me? That's your best?"

"No…"

"Really? Because that seems to be all you've come up with." Abomasnow shakes his head, his dark purple eyes narrowing. "You're certainly not proving otherwise."

Mustering his energy, Golduck rolls himself away, as Abomasnow smashes down with his fist.

"Trying to escape again, always trying to get away from anything and everything," taunts Abomasnow. "Are you going to even try fighting me anymore? Or have you accepted your defeat yet?"

"Shut…up."

"Huh. Don't know why you bother."

Abomasnow's arm glows in a green light this time, as he pulls back again. He rears back and slams his rugged body into Golduck, getting him to cry out.

He pulls back on his arm and shakes it, wincing from the recoil. Abomasnow glares down at Golduck, who clutches himself tightly together.

"There's nothing really left to you, is there?" Abomasnow snorts. "You can't even assemble a good insult, let alone retaliate at all." The general shrugs and leans over Golduck, who shudders between the broken shards from the floor. "This is why you've fallen so far from grace."

"Go to hell."

"You first!"

Ice forms around Abomasnow's arm as he punches down on Golduck. He pulls back, and punches with his next arm. Steadily, he alternates between his fists, pounding away at Golduck, even as the frost fades from his arms.

"Just why…are you…still breathing?!" Abomasnow huffs as he pulls back, and laughs at the bruised duck below him. "What are you even holding onto at this point?"

General Abomasnow lifts himself back up, gazing down at Golduck. Though his stomach still rises and falls, his breathing is hoarse, and his body twitches from the damage.

Raising his arms together, Abomasnow narrows his gaze on Golduck. He reaches back behind himself, ready to hammer down with his fists.

He winces, slightly at first. Forcing a blink, Abomasnow pulls back his arms a bit further. His eyes quiver as he lowers his arms, bringing his hands to his face.

Gasping, his hands fly up to his face and Abomasnow grips it tightly. He moans, stumbling back from Golduck, and claws at his head.

"What…what are you doing?!" He glances at Golduck and roars at him. "What the hell kind of a trick is this?!"

Squeezing his eyes shut, Abomasnow wildly shakes his head. Yelling out, he backs away and smashes at the nearest wall.

Panting, Abomasnow lets his arm drop down. He slumps back and shivers as he gently rolls his arm around.

Turning back from the wall, Abomasnow opens his pale pink eyes.

"This…how…how did I…?" His eyes widen and the general sinks to the floor. "No…I did…I've destroyed…gods, what did they…? Wait."

Whirling around, Abomasnow chokes back his gasp, spotting Golduck's form on the ground. He scrambles over to the fallen knight, and leans over him.

"Good gods, Golduck!" Abomasnow gawks down at the duck, whose eyes slowly shut. "No, no! Don't you dare…!" He grips at Golduck's bloody shoulder. "Come on, it's me again. You were right! I'm back." Abomasnow pauses as Golduck's breathing slows. "Gods, please forgive me, Golduck. I…I couldn't…" Abomasnow shakes his head. "That blasted squid and his giggling ghost, they…I-I tried to stop them, but…"

His voice breaks as one hand reaches to his head, the other back against Golduck. Abomasnow's brow furrows as he glares down.

"Keep breathing, you hear me?! Open your damn eyes, you arrogant bastard!" He snaps back, dropping his arm from his head and slamming the ground. Softer, he utters, "Don't die. Don't let me be the one that kills you…please…"

Still bending over Golduck, Abomasnow watches his knight, tears lining his eyes, but refusing to let them fall.

---

[Southeastern City Streets]

The wind surges around a blue sphere. Lucario narrows his eyes, scanning the road around him.

A crack of ice hits his ears, and he pivots to the side, launching his Aura Sphere. Delibird jumps aside, and slams down, sliding against the icy road and behind an igloo.

Growling, Lucario lifts his hands again, charging more auras. He glares at the igloo, shifting his stance to aim at it.

"Please stop this," calls Mewtwo. "There is no reason—"

"He cut off the way out!" Lucario glowers back at Mewtwo. "He's going to fix that for me!"

"But you are scaring and hurting him," counters Mewtwo. "This can be sorted out—"

"Yes, and I'm getting to that," snaps Lucario.

An orb drops down beside Lucario, and he jerks back. It flickers as Lucario dives away, dodging the explosion.

Delibird falters back, digging through his tail sack to get another Present. He pulls one out and yelps, as Lucario rushes at him.

Leaping up, Lucario spirals around and kicks Delibird across the face. The orb falls and Lucario races back, as Delibird rolls aside, barely escaping the blast.

Kicking from the ground, Lucario charges at Delibird. His body crackles with aura, and he throws a punch at Delibird.

One hit lands, and another follows. Delibird gasps as Lucario punches again, and then kicks his stomach in. Clutching it, Delibird sinks to the ground.

Reaching down, Lucario drags the penguin back up. He brings Delibird close to his face with a growl.

"Give me another little bomb of yours, and blast open that damned pathway," he demands.

"Stop!"

Mewtwo soars over to the pair, and pushes Lucario back, knocking Delibird free from his grip. Lucario scowls, but lowers his fist.

"This will not help you find answers!" Mewtwo steps between Lucario and Delibird. "Violence does not fix anything, so leave him be."

"My, my, you are truly naïve if you think you have no need to fight," berates Lucario. "Do you really think words can help with everything?"

"It has stopped you," points out Mewtwo.

"But not him."

Blinking, Mewtwo glances back, as an orb rolls past him and behind Lucario. Delibird grabs at Mewtwo's arm and drags him back.

Crouching, Lucario quickly throws a punch at Delibird, and then thrusts his palm forward, knocking the penguin away. He tugs Mewtwo briskly aside, as the explosion rings out behind them, ice raining past them.

"Even if you don't fight, and that's very good on you from a silly moral scope," argues Lucario, "your friends continue to fight, and their enemies will battle them. You don't live in a world where you have the luxury to stand idly aside."

"Violence should still never be the first answer," contends Mewtwo.

"No, but it's usually the last."

Stepping in front of Mewtwo, Lucario raises his fists. Delibird pushes himself back up from the ground, and brushes down his ruffled feathers.

"Just let him go, and I'll let you go," offers Delibird. "Fair trade?"

"How about you blast open an exit, and I'll let you live?"

"Guess not."

Spewing water from his mouth, Delibird spits it to the air. He quickly traces a circle with his wings, and spins into forcing his flipper out, launching his Water Pulse forward.

Lucario charges an orange sphere in his hands and lobs it into the pulse, knocking it away. An orb rolls over to him, and flickers.

The Present cools, however, and Lucario inhales as a light green mist rises from the Present. Delibird groans and hangs his arms.

"That couldn't have been worse timing," complains Delibird.

"Give up already," snaps Lucario. "You can't possibly win."

"Even if that's true, that's ok," decides Delibird. "As long as I can delay you, then I'm doing my part."

"Are you mad?!" Lucario stomps down. "I'll kill you!"

"Try it, then."

Plucking another Present from his sack, Delibird lobs his explosive orb out again. Lucario launches a red sphere at it, detonating it in the air, with the blast knocking Delibird away.

He crashes into a house, slamming hard against its icy wall. Sinking down, Delibird drops to the ground, and heaves as he grasps his chest.

Aura crackles before him as Lucario approaches. Delibird clutches his tail, dragging it closer to him.

Mewtwo zips in and slides in front of Lucario, outstretching his arms. Lucario jolts back, and growls.

"Move!"

"So you can kill him?" Mewtwo shakes his head. "I will not allow that."

"Then fight me yourself!"

"No."

"Look, either you get out of my way, or…or…" Lucario throws his arms up. "Why are you even here?! I can sense energy just emanating from you, so why do you bother with those so far below you?!"

"They are not beneath me," assesses Mewtwo. "They stand alongside me, and—"

"You have the power to stop everything!" Lucario stomps at Mewtwo and points his fist at him. "Had you been fighting, you would have decimated the opposing forces! Your friends wouldn't be struggling like they are now!"

"That is not true."

"How would you know?!" Lucario grasps at his head. "Oh, what do I even care?! You're a fool! You can be something so much greater, and you refuse! That's not worth my time!"

"Then leave."

"You're still useful enough to—"

Lucario blinks as Mewtwo drifts back. Slowly, he glances down at his feet, with a flashing orb sparking below him.

"Hell."

It blasts and flings Lucario back, crashing through an icy wall. He roars and breaks free from it, dropping down and lifting his head.

Delibird crouches down, hand in his tail, while Mewtwo waits beside him. He folds his arms and gazes at Lucario, frowning.

"There are better ways to find answers," suggests Mewtwo. "I am not the one that everyone is truly seeking, nor do I know who that is. Taking me will not help you."

"Staying here doesn't help you," contests Lucario. "You know this. And you need answers yourself, I know that." He watches as Mewtwo lowers his head, but they keep their attention on one another. "Save your miserable friends now, sure. But then what? Stay here, be a prisoner? No, you need to do something. You've been left to your devices for long enough, and we both know that."

"That's enough already!" Delibird plucks out another Present. "You're done bossing him around, and you're done with everything here."

"Yes, I am, with this place," admits Lucario. "But not with him, nor many other matters."

"You won't get to them."

Delibird pulls back and throws his orb. Lucario runs forward, jumps to catch it, and throws it at the roadblock.

The blast breaks enough ice to clear space for Lucario to rush through. He smirks back to Delibird, who flails and scrambles to grab another Present.

"Farewell, then."

His eyes lock with Mewtwo's, and the two hesitate for a moment. Twisting away, Lucario races off, taking his leave from the city.

"We have to stop him!" Delibird pulls his wing from his tail. "Come on, he'll get reinforcements, and—"

"He will not."

"What?"

"This entire time, he has been looking to escape," elucidates Mewtwo. "He is not looking for conquest, and he is not the type to kill for pleasure, such as others he aligned with demonstrated."

"But…he could still—"

"Truly, I believe the last thing he desires is to stay here longer," determines Mewtwo. "He is…complicated."

"Understatement, easily." Delibird shakes his head. "But I've got you back, so that's win enough for me. What do we do now?"

"Help the others," decides Mewtwo. "They must be going for the palace, so we will make our way over there."

"Right!" Delibird steps back to the city, but pauses. "Um…well, I can see the palace that way, so…"

"You do not know the way?"

"No, I…uh…" Delibird shrugs. "I'll figure it out. Come on!"

He scurries off down the road, stumbling a bit as he rushes. Mewtwo glances back at the opening from the streets, gazing to the barely visible mountains in the distance. Turning away, he follows Delibird back through the city.

---

[Chesnaught]

Ice cracks beneath me as I stagger back, keeping a tight grip on Delphox. Marowak glares at me as Gengar flies ahead. She laughs and opens her mouth as she soars to us.

Swinging my sword, I miss as she drifts aside, and spirals through the air. A dark purple orb launches from her hand and knocks me back.

Though I force my legs down, I still skid against the icy floor. Flakes of frost and wood break and fly around.

My eyes shift a bit as Marowak rushes over. He holds his bone up, and I tilt myself to block it.

But the bone goes up and smacks against the roof above. Cracking, part of the mokoshi collapses, bringing snow cascading down.

Delphox wails as I push him below me, letting my shield take most hits from the debris. Still, I feel wood flick off of my head, and snow coats us both.

Barely opening my eyes, another orange blast hits me. I groan and clutch at my stomach, with a burning pang forcing me to double over.

Gengar chuckles ahead of me, and I lift my head as she drifts forward. Heaving, I raise my sword as nears.

A fireball rockets ahead of me, and Gengar takes the blast, dropping back. Blinking, I glance back at Delphox, as he lowers his stick.

"Did I get her?"

"Yeah!"

"Good." His hand tightens over his eyes. "Blasted witch."

"…Was that a pun?"

He smirks a bit, though his lip still wavers. Something bashes his head and he yelps, dropping his wand and clutching at his head.

Scooping it up, I glare at Marowak, who catches his bone club. He grins, waving the weapon around.

"See that?!" Marowak laughs. "You two thought you had us before! And now look at you!" He twirls his bone around. "This fight is almost over."

Picking herself up, Gengar sails aside and to Marowak, while I back away, pushing Delphox back as I retreat. He whimpers and I raise an eyebrow. Bumping into the palace behind me, I realize why Delphox did.

They've got us against the wall.

"You kept telling me to surrender," calls Marowak. "Didn't realize how bad it was going to get, huh?"

"Easy, Marowak."

"How about you two surrender instead?" Marowak points his club. "There's no hope for you anymore. None of your friends are here to rescue you. Give up, and maybe we can think of something for you." There's sincerity in his tone, and that really pisses me off. "Maybe you won't need to die here." He giggles. "There's still so much left that we're doing, and we'll change the world."

"Marowak." Gengar twists to him. "They're not worth this."

"Why not?" He lowers his bone a bit. "Earlier, you made it seem like this could go a few different ways." Marowak tilts his head at her. "Do they need to die or not?"

"Ches…naught…"

Jumping, I glance behind me, as Delphox reaches ahead. He grips his wand, and it glows with an orange light.

"Do it…"

With a nod, I raise his staff and thrust it out. The orange light soars from it and over at the other two, as it flashes before they can turn.

Both disappear behind the explosion, as more of the palace crashes down over them, burying them in the roof wreckage. I pant as I wait for them to move, but nothing comes from the rubble.

Pulling Delphox from the wall, I hurry back as I tug him along. He groans, still holding his head and eyes. His robes are torn away into tatters by now, with tears along his sleeves, hem, and slices open across his legs, revealing his red fur beneath. My hand traces dents and breaks in my armor, but I shake my head and step closer to him.

"Can you move your hand?" I reach out and place my hand over his.

"No, please." Delphox flinches and cowers away from me. "It hurts."

"That's why I want to look."

"Not just my eyes, the world." He clamps his hand tighter. "Even just seeing a little bit past my hand is stinging miserably. I can't stand this."

"Can't you just heal it?" I scratch my head. "Her hex couldn't be that strong."

"It was! Is!" Delphox grunts. "And I have so little training on healing arts."

"Will that help a little?"

"No! I can't just apply magic and wash the pain away!" He groans. "I don't even know what kind of hex or curse this is yet…"

"Sorry."

"It's fine." Inhaling sharply, he slowly exhales his breath as it flows before him. "Did you get them?"

"Direct hit."

"Perfect." He smiles, but then frowns again. "Gengar will probably get through it in a moment."

"How?!"

"Has her magic taught you nothing?"

"But we blasted her!"

"And?"

"And that's it!"

"Can you see her body? Marowak's?"

Turning my head up, I gaze ahead at the burning pile of a wreck away from us. Nothing stirs, but that only gets my heart racing once more.

"…Damn it."

"That's a 'no' then."

"What do I do?" I grip his arm and lightly clutch it. "We're going to get killed out here if I can't stop them."

"Leave me."

Blinking, I twist back to him, as Delphox flops back against the wall.

"…What?"

"Right now, I'm a liability," reasons Delphox. "I…I don't know how to win this." He grunts and lifts both hands against his eyes. "Ah, I can't even get this to stop!" Delphox moans. "Just…stop them."

"Delphox—"

"It's fine—"

"To hell with that!" I pluck his wand out and force it in front of him. "You're not dying out here, and I'm not about to let them get near you again!"

"Listen to me," he persists. "If you keep…focusing on me, you'll die with me."

"Neither of us will die." I push the stick against his hand.

"Chesnaught, don't be stubborn." He snatches his wand with the top hand, keeping the other tight against his face. "Please. I don't want to be the reason Greninja is left alone."

"And I'm not dealing with Gardevoir if you don't get back to her," I fire back. "Or Nidoking. Or Rhydon. And Greninja, since he'd be the first to know."

"But—"

"Shut up and stay behind me." Both hands are back around my sword's hilt. "Just let me do the work."

"…I don't want to be alone."

"Huh?"

"Before, en route here…" Delphox sighs. "I don't want to be alone." He snorts out a bitter half chuckle. "I still don't even know what I want. Can't decide exactly who fits my fancy, so…that's why."

"Delphox…"

"Please don't die over me." He pushes himself up along the wall. His voice breaks as he adds, "I'm not worth it."

"Yes, you are."

"At least hesitate."

"No." I turn away from him. "Stop writing yourself off and keep breathing."

"…Ok."

His last response tone gets me to perk up a bit; it doesn't sound full of defeat, just acceptance.

Glaring ahead, I keep an eye on the wreckage, and I wait for some kind of movement. Even if Gengar could get herself out of that, she couldn't just help Marowak break free without causing some kind of noise.

Sizzling fills the air behind me, just before Delphox screams out. Whirling around, my mouth parts as Gengar stands behind us, with Marowak around her legs, as they rise from the shadows.

"Aw, does that hurt, little fox?"

"Bitch!"

"Isn't that what you're called?"

"Aahh, gods…!"

Darting past him, I raise my sword, but Marowak drops from Gengar and throws himself at me.

My shoulder drops forward and I ram him aside, slamming him against the palace wall. Some of it breaks, but I can't bother checking the mess.

Turning back, I jump up and swipe at Gengar, who floats back to evade. As I pivot back to her, she relaxes her hand, and Delphox cries out as he sinks to his knees.

"You know," comes Gengar's voice, as she drifts back, "if you were to cut your losses, you might be able to win this."

"He's not a loss."

"Eeheehee, not the fox, though that's a good point." Gengar's toothy grin broadens. "I'm talking about your Emperor, and the Empire as a whole." She giggles. "This place is best left for dead, isn't it?"

"Never."

"Kingdoms rise and fall, ehee." She floats forward, and I point my blade. "Why stand for one that's plummeting? This isn't even your home."

"That doesn't matter." I swing my sword, but Gengar evades it. "Defending this place is what I'm here to do."

"Ah, and you're doing a marvelous job, eheehee!"

"Why are you even doing this?" Lifting my sword, I aim for her again, but she's so lofty and undeterred by any of it. "What's your goal, getting the Empire to crumble?"

"This? Ehee, this is just the first step."

"To what?!"

"Eeheehee…I'm not sure if you should know, if you won't see it…"

"The hell are you talking about?!"

"Asking like that certainly won't get you answers," taunts Gengar.

Delphox screams out, and I redirect my attention back to him. Marowak is swinging his bone club into Delphox, knocking him around. He tries to cast a spell, but blindly striking proves useless.

"Tell him to back off," I growl. "Now!"

"Why?" Gengar grins. "That impudent little fox isn't strictly necessary for anything, to my knowledge…and neither are you."

She lifts her hand, and snaps her fingers. Delphox wails as he grips his eyes tightly, losing what little concentration he has. Marowak strikes him again, and he hits the floor.

"Poor thing." Gengar turns back to me. "And you…you can't even hit me, can you?"

"Like hell I can't!"

Grass spurting from my needles, I lift a free arm and swing wildly for Gengar. One blow connects and she falls, but tumbles away as I swing for her again, missing with both my blade and arm.

"Good, I forgot about that move," she praises. "But that's not going to be enough."

She lifts her hands, and quickly launches a Shadow Ball, blasting me into the palace wall. I slump down, but force my hands forward, and push back up. My legs wobble, but I don't care about being steady; I can't hesitate.

"Adorable, look at you go!" She cackles, readying two spells over her hands; the orange one crackles, and the cyan one whistles. "Just how much can you take? Eheeheehee!"

First spell flies out, and I stumble to evade; it singes my hand and I grit my teeth to hold in the pain. The second connects, it's freezing, and I gasp out as I clutch my stomach.

"Somehow you're still handling this!" Gengar giggles. "What could possibly keep you going?"

Shaking my head, I glance back to Delphox, as he lifts his wand to block another swing from Marowak.

I have to get to him.

"Honestly, you have to save yourself first." Gengar chuckles. "And you're nowhere near doing so."

She lifts her fingers, with something purple and oozing dripping from them. Laughing, she tosses it away and then charges a spell between her hands. It's a bright blue or indigo…the wind howls around her sphere…

Both of my hands grip the hilt. This is going to hurt, but whatever it takes, I'll do it.

Something smacks into her face, and Gengar flails, losing her spell. She wipes snow from her face, her smile slowly fading, as she tosses it aside.

"Move away please."

That voice…I turn my head, as Mienshao whips his sleeve arm aside. His clothes are a bit tattered, but nowhere near as bad as Delphox's or mine. His eyes are narrow, and he's glaring at Gengar, whose smile is entirely gone, as she frowns to him.

"I won't repeat myself."

"You…shouldn't be here…"

"Very well."

Whipping his other arm, another snowball soars from his arm, and smashes into Gengar. She flies back, and bounces against the railing and into the floor.

"Mienshao—?"

"Go get Delphox." He whips the fur from his arms around, scanning for loose snow and ice. "I can't hold her off long."

"Uh, right."

Dashing from him and back down to Delphox, I cleave my blade down as Marowak swings again.

He pivots around, away from me and behind Delphox. He whacks the bone into Delphox's arm, and he yelps as he lobs a fireball out, which sears into the palace.

Swinging again, I miss as Marowak ducks under the blade, and he smacks Delphox against his back. He collapses to his knees, and gasps out.

"Marowak, stop!"

"No." He glares at me. "And you won't either." He frowns and shakes his head. "I can't let this keep going."

"If you want to hit someone, hit me." I step toward him, but he lowers his bone toward the back of Delphox's head. "Marowak, let him go."

"If I do that, then what? You two stop me here?" Delphox pushes up, but Marowak kicks him back down. "Not happening."

"This isn't how you get—"

"You're right, this isn't the right way, or the way that I wanted." He smirks to me, and there's something about his eyes…something lost… "But here we are, with more soldiers dying for Emperor Empoleon."

"Only if you let it amount to that." I lift one hand from my blade and reach for him. "Come on, Marowak. Let this go."

"Nothing changes if I do." A tear slips from his eye, and his smirk is gone. "I can't let things go back to how they were."

"Marowak."

"This is for a greater good."

He lines up his bone to Delphox's head and pulls back. He swings forward just a bit, but I've already thrust my blade out.

His bone falls from his hands, and rolls away, off of the ledge. He gags and coughs, staggering back. Marowak looks down, and then up to me, his eyes watery.

Pulling back on my blade, I kick him back to the railing. He stumbles back, clutching his wound, and slips, dropping back over the railing. The front of his head smacks against the ledge, and I dart over, but it's too late. He plummets.

"No, no…" I twist around and Gengar stands at the railing. "This is wrong. All wrong. He's still useful yet…that rage…it's needed."

She dives from the top and leaps from the ledge, soaring with shadows and down the burdock piling after Marowak. Their fall is too far for me to see anything else.

Turning back around, Delphox thrashes and grips at the ground. He howls and rolls back, pushing himself against the palace wall.

"Delphox, it's ok." I glance at my bloodied blade and shake my head. "We won."

He doesn't answer, still gripping his face and whining. I step toward him, but stop as crunching footsteps approach.

"Gods, Chesnaught, I didn't think…" Mienshao blinks and raises an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Silently, I step between him and Delphox, pointing my sword at him. Mienshao blinks, looking at it, and then to me.

---

[Greninja]

Bit by bit, the light travels along the rope, creeping toward the bell in the tower's center.

Tossing another Water Shuriken, with a stronger concentration, I dive aside as Empoleon stabs for me. Same as before, it splashes and extinguishes nothing.

Whipping my sword before me, I charge for the fuse, but Empoleon launches himself in a spiral of water. He halts before me, trident ready.

Each stab comes faster and harder than I'm expecting, but I evade his barrage. He pulls back on his weapon and slams it against the ground, as a pulse stirs from the floor.

A tremor ripples below as I jump off the floor. His tome drifts behind him in the bubble, and I'm wondering if his trident has magic that's independent from the book.

The tome remains still as jewels on the trident glimmer. As the flickers turn a bright blue, ice bursts up from the ground below me.

Crashing down, I grasp at the floor and force myself back up. Indigo energy crackles from the ends of the trident, and Empoleon aims for me.

With whatever energy I have left, I dart from his blasts; each seems like it has a draconic strength behind it.

Plucking a shuriken from my belt, I inhale as Empoleon twirls the trident around. Wind rushes around him, and he widens his purple eyes on me.

Corkscrewing through the air, he rushes at me, beak stretched out as he spins around. I toss the shuriken, and brace myself as he slams into me.

His pecks stab into me more than I expect, and I yelp from his assault. He forces himself from me, and jumps back. Though I fumble, I keep myself upright.

Twisting around, he spots my shuriken, having cut the rope for the fuse. But he flips through his tome, and before the flare can lose its path, vines spurt from the line, reconnecting the rope for the fuse to travel.

"Haven't you learned?" Empoleon spins back to me. "There's no stopping this."

"Why not just blow the damn keg then?"

"Dramatic effect."

"Liar." I narrow my eyes as he raises an eyebrow. "You're not entirely in control."

"Don't be naïve—"

"Naivety? That's the truth, no matter how you look at it." I pluck one of the last shuriken from my belt. "Whether you're struggling with yourself, or you're still the pawn of the enemy, there's no part of you that's entirely in control of anything, not at this point."

"Hm." Empoleon shrugs. "When you put it like that, I suppose it's so." He taps down with his trident. "Though, what does it matter?"

Spinning it through the air, he grabs the trident and slams it hard into the ground. The tremor rockets across the floor, and knocks me from my feet.

Hitting the ground again, my back is sore from each fall. Panting, I gaze up at the ceiling above me. It's almost hypnotic in its design, with each ripple of circles in the tiling that lead to…

Wait.

"Stay down, Greninja." Empoleon's footsteps are a bit hasty as he closes the distance. "Your resistance only makes this more difficult on yourself."

"Not you?" I push back with my elbows to help myself back up. "This isn't at all trying for you?"

"…Nope."

"Huh." I rise up from the floor as Empoleon swings his trident at me. Ducking below it, I toss another shuriken, which slices at his leg. "Funny, since this room holds many memories."

There's some blood from his leg, but it doesn't really register to him. Empoleon merely flushes it with some water, though fails to clean it very well.

"Wasting your time with empathetic drivel won't help."

"That's where you're wrong."

Dashing over to the southern bell, I grab my sword, sheathe it, and swing it. The bell chime echoes around the room, and Empoleon shudders as it rings.

"That one represents your wife," I remind him. "It represents your proposal to her, how she would admire the city below."

Shaking his head wildly, Empoleon glares and rushes for me. I race away from him and over to the next bell. Pulling my arm back, I swing hard, and slam into it, another heavy reverberation flowing through the tower.

"Eastern bell," I call out as it rings, "which is in the direction of the Mountains." I point my blade at him. "Does that stir anything in you? Some kind of memory must exist with meeting the Mountains Queen, right?"

Emperor Empoleon reaches at his head, and he winces as he grabs it. Still, he shakes it off and swings his trident out.

"She's nothing to me!"

"Hasn't she made you wary?" I smirk. "Enough to create an alliance with Nidoking, who is someone that you're trying hard not to disappoint." He falters as I lower my arm. "He's your friend."

"He's a rival monarch!"

"That's not how you see him."

"Yes it is!"

Charging at me again, I find this easier to evade, as he lacks the focus to channel magic behind his furious attacks.

My feet kick hard against the chilly floor, and I jump up as I strike at the northern bell. Empoleon clutches his head hard and groans as I land, pivoting around to face him.

"Your son's favorite." Empoleon wails as he grabs at his head, clawing at himself. "Do you miss that wonder from him, and his desires to explore beyond the world before him?" I step forward as the ringing bell echoes across the tower. "Haven't you kept that journey waiting long enough? Hasn't he been in your thoughts? Don't you want him home?"

"Stop!"

"Not until you're free."

Unsheathing my blade, I run for the center and aim for the rope again. I pull back, but something slices across my body, and gasp out as I grasp my side.

It's not deep, but I glance back as I watch a shuriken bounce from the wall. I turn back as Empoleon grips his head with one arm, and drops the other.

That fuse is getting too close.

Forcing my arm up again, I run for the rope and slice it apart again. I kick the other end of it away, and the flare reaches the end of the tether, sizzling as it goes out.

"This is over, Empoleon." I lower my sword and exhale, pressing water against my cut. "You're free from this."

"…There's…only one…way out." Empoleon lifts his head and I spot the red veins pulsing in his eyes. "They'll have it from me by any means…"

His trident sparks as he lifts it up, and the tome pages flip. My arm lowers as he twirls it and strikes down to the ground.

No tremors rush out from it this time, but a green wave flows across the room. Vines erupt from around the tower, and several flares spark up along each of them.

My eyes widen as I watch several trail closer to the grand bell, each traveling inside to wrap around the keg.

Raising my sword, I slice away one vine, and it falls. But it grows across the floor and back up toward the bell. Each vine entwines itself within as they wrap the keg, and their flares slowly crackle closer.

"Empoleon, please!" I spiral back as he stomps for me. "You're in there, and you can end this!"

"That's what…I'm trying to do."

"This isn't—"

"It is!" Empoleon shivers as he storms onward. "I want my son back. I want my wife too. And I want to give my empire justice." He pauses and lowers his trident. "That's why this has to happen."

"There's another way!" I'm desperate. "Look at me! I'm here with you! Just work with me, not against me!"

"This is the definitive way."

"Come on!"

"Forgive me, but this is how it must be."

One vine smacks my sword from my hand, and I yelp from its blow. Raising his claw, a silver glint sparkles from it as Empoleon swings it at me, and it tears across my body.

Grasping at my stomach, I fumble back, and I cry out.

I can't take any more of this.

"Goodbye, Greninja."

His tome is flipping as he pulls back on the trident. I sidestep the weapon as he stabs forward with one arm, but we're both more mindful of his other wing.

A golden burst ripples from his trident and rips through me, forcing my arms up and away from my body.

There's a spark of lightning that flickers from Empoleon's wing, and a yellow bolt dances around an indigo beam from Empoleon's arm this time.

My arms are up to shield whatever they can take, but I'm realizing that I'm about to die. There's a bit of blood on my hands, along with some of the golden energy from his trident. They mix together and I cross my arms as the blast jolts for me.

The beam catches in between my hands, and it slows immensely. My arms twitch and quake as I pull them apart from one another.

And with it, I rip apart the burst that Empoleon sent at me.

We both freeze as I watch the indigo flares and bolt bits flutter down before my eyes. Empoleon's mouth drops open as I gaze ahead of myself.

Hands shaking, I ball them together slowly, and bring them closer in. My dry blood across my hands is an azure white now, and it sparkles a bit before fading.

"How the hell did you do that?!" Even Empoleon's shout doesn't take my concentration from my hands. "Since when are you versed with magic?!"

I'm not. I can't be.

…Unless…?

"…Emperor Empoleon?"

"What?" He gawks at me, but straightens up. It's hitting him now. "…Impossible."

That must be him fighting back after all.

Gazing around the room, I search the withering vines. Their flares are gone.

"Damn me!" Empoleon grips at his head. "I can't do this! Can't you understand?!" He groans and claws at his head, pulling down on himself. "To save them, I have to end this here! I need…need to help…" His eyes fade in their darker glow, and there's a bit of blue just in the center of them. They focus on me, and he weakly utters, "…Help…"

Empoleon roars out and stumbles back as he yells out the last of it. The blue in his eyes vanishes as the red-violet veins spread back in, and the bright violet light pulses in his eyes.

Reaching down, I scoop up my sword, and face him. He snaps his claws as he grips his trident. Slightly, my lips curl up.

"I've got you."

We race to each other, and slash out as our weapons strike off from one another. His pulses, as he knocks me back, and he jabs across at me.

Bending back, Empoleon grunts as I slip from his trident, and then grab it. My eyes narrow as I swing myself over it.

His tome flips open, and a blast of water rushes from its bubble as I spin over his pole arm. Waves crash against me, but they're weak.

Wading through them, I twist around, and work my hands to absorb the water. Empoleon backs away, as I swing my free hand for him.

A rush of water slashes at him, and knocks him back. I spiral, and swipe with my sword, slashing him further.

He slashes with his wing, slicing back at me. Barely leaning away from his blow, it shreds my robes, but misses my body.

I swing up as he lifts his trident to block me, and we're in a deadlock. He pushes forward, but I meet his effort and force him back.

"Do it," he insists, and chuckles. "My death ensures their will."

"Didn't I tell you I'm not killing you?"

"Then what's this effort for?"

"You're heavy, and I need to move you."

"Huh?"

Water seeps from my hands as it pours between our weapons. His grip slips and I knock him back while he fumbles.

Slicing vines near the walls, I whip them around and twist them against his ankles. In a quick tug, he's off-balance and flailing as he staggers back.

Jumping up, I kick up into Empoleon's chest, and slam him back into the western bell. His head jolts back and I uppercut his head into the bell, smashing out another vibrating ring.

Emperor Empoleon slumps down to the ground as the chime courses through the tower.

"Now you've got a new memory for that one," I mutter.

"No, no…" Empoleon murmurs, gripping his head as he shakes it. "Wrong…all wrong…still useful…" He grunts and tightens his grip, and gasps out as he writhes out from his shudders.

His eyes are blue.

"Emperor!"

Grunting, Empoleon lifts his head up more, and gazes quietly at me for a moment. His tome drops from the bubble and thuds against the ground beside us.

"Greninja…" His voice is a bit hoarse. "What's happened…?"

"Give it a moment, sire." I reach down to help him up from the ground. "It's all going to be ok."

"No, it…I…she came to me—"

"Don't, Empoleon." I smile to him. "It's over. You're free now."

"But the bomb…"

My heartbeat skips and quickens as my eyes widen. I twist my head quickly, and spot a flare crawling up a vine. His snap from before…

Crap.

Pushing up and dragging Empoleon across the room, he moans as I drag him along. The doors are right there; I can get us out.

"Oh, Greninja, wait…"

Glancing back, I see the spark crawl the remainder of the fuse and into the bell. The door isn't near enough, but if I can force him out of here…

Throwing Empoleon from my shoulder, I push him as hard as I can to the door, and blast him back with a rush of water. He flies out from the room, yelling to me as he soars past the door.

At least I saved him.

Turning back, my eyes travel past the southern bell as the bomb blasts from within the grand bell.

There's no fire that meets me, though: it's an almost clear wave that reverberates with the bell's crashing, dying chimes, and breaks the icy columns around the tower.

As the bell collapses, it tumbles toward me, with the screaming waves emit from it and blast into me full force. Whatever's left for the southern window, I blow out past it and into the sky.

The last sight for me is the crumbling bell tower itself.

---

[Chesnaught]

Mienshao raises his arms as I hold my sword at him. He glances between Delphox and I, but doesn't make any movement. I hesitate, as Delphox whimpers behind me, muffling it by covering his face. Still, I keep my blade on Mienshao.

"Who are you?"

"Mienshao."

"Where have you been?"

"Stuck in a closet."

"…Seriously?"

"As shameful as that sounds out loud, yes."

"How'd you get out?"

"By opening the door."

"…Cut the crap."

"Chesnaught, you have a sword pointed at me—"

"Damn right—"

"So I have no reason to lie." Mienshao lowers his arms with his eyes.

"Sorry, but that's not good enough."

"Fine, don't believe me. In two minutes, you can run me through like you did that little scoundrel." I open my mouth to protest, but he snaps his fur sleeve. "Hush. The important matter at hand isn't me. It's Delphox."

My hands tighten on my sword and I keep myself firmly between him and Delphox. He groans behind me as Mienshao loses focus on me, flinching and turning to him.

"Keep your sword on me, if you'd like," he offers. "But Delphox needs some kind of help, and I don't know if I can." He returns his attention to me. "I must and will try."

He starts toward Delphox, but I'm already lowering my sword as he nears us. Maybe it's another trick, but it's very convincing.

"Make it stop," whines Delphox. "Make it stop, make it stop…"

"Sadly the pain will persist," informs Mienshao. "But maybe we can lighten it a bit."

"…Mienshao…?"

"Yes." He reaches out to Delphox, but hesitates and pulls back on his hand. "I don't know what they did to you, but even if I did, I don't think I'm equipped to take care of it."

"Is it really you?"

"Would you rather someone else?" He glances back to me. "Chesnaught's still here."

"Haven't left for a second," I assure him. Bending my knees, I crouch to him.

"Of course not." Delphox curls into himself. "My eyes…"

"Easy, take this slow," soothes Mienshao. This time, he reaches out and rests his hand on Delphox's shoulder. "Remember how we practiced meditating?"

"That won't help—"

"Relax, just take a moment." Mienshao takes his free hand and strokes his whisker back. "How about…how about you read my mind?"

"What?"

"Just take a moment, concentrate on my thoughts right now." Mienshao leans back and unties the fabric belt of his robes. "Go on. What am I thinking of?"

"Coursing river stream down the mountainside," recites Delphox. "You think of that when you're not in a calm state to help yourself get there."

"Good." He takes the belt and stretches it out. "What else?"

"You see me." Delphox smirks. "I don't smile like that."

"In my mind, you can." Mienshao smiles as he takes the fabric and brings it close to Delphox's face. "You see the others?"

"Carracosta and Greninja are by the water…Chesnaught's under a tree with Quagsire sleeping and Alakazam reading. Machamp's leaning over one of the branches." Delphox inhales as Mienshao wraps the cloth over his eyes. "Weavile is shooting her arrow at a target that Froslass tosses. Poliwrath and Politoed clap."

"Nice, isn't it?" Mienshao gently removes Delphox's hands from under the fabric and brings it closer to his eyes. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes."

"Less?"

"…Yes."

"Good." Mienshao slowly ties the belt behind Delphox's head. "What else?"

"It's a bit cloudy, but still nice out. You're still not calm, but you're…getting there." Delphox raises his hand to touch the cloth. "What is this?"

"The best that I can do for you at the moment." Mienshao pats Delphox's back. "I'll help you get treated when we get a better minute."

"…Ok." He pauses but then glances up at me, while I blink at his blindfold. "Is Chesnaught still there?"

"Right here," I reassure him.

"Good." He pauses and shakes his head. "Wait, not good. Chesnaught, you need to keep moving—"

"Not yet." My shoulders drop, and I pick my head up, not realizing it. "I'll go in a second."

Slowly, Delphox nods and I rise. Mienshao looks up at me, pats Delphox again, and stands up to meet me. He meets my gaze and we wait for a moment.

"Look, I…" Exhaling, I rub my arm. "I'm sorry. But, please, you have to explain what happened to you."

"…All right." Mienshao lowers his head. "The other night, after the others went to bed, I stayed out to stargaze." He tugs on his arm and hangs his head lower. "Not long after, a squid flew up from the palace's lower walls and attacked me. Being a Psychic, I wasn't prepared to handle him on my own." He squeezes his eyes shut and shudders. "To top it off, Zoroark came up not long after and helped him incapacitate me."

"Why didn't you call for help?"

"Something kept buzzing in my mind, a voice telling me, 'don't scream, or else.' And I wanted to disobey, but I…" Mienshao lifts his head to meet my eyes. "That dastard had his eyes glowing the entire time. Zoroark didn't even need to do much." His eyes lower and he gazes back to the ground. "Last thing I remember seeing clearly is my own face, while Zoroark's disappeared. The rest is a fog of them telling me to get inside of a closet past the armory and to not make any kind of sounds." He winces and folds his arms against himself. "That sick squid's voice kept whispering, 'that's a good pet,' and I wanted to…to…"

He jumps when my hand comes down on his shoulder. A tear slips from his eye and he blinks as I smile down to him.

"It's over now," I assure him. "You're alive, we're all right."

"No…I don't think I am." Mienshao sinks under my grip and drops his head. "There's still a lot that I—"

"Don't. It's not on you."

"Yes it is." Mienshao softly shakes his head. "Anything that happened, while I wasn't there to help—"

"That's not on you," I repeat. "Everything will be fine, Mienshao. We've almost won."

"…Almost?"

Before I can begin explaining, a vibration rumbles from above. Shattering and crumbling fills the air, and I hear a bell slamming against the mokoshi. My eyes widen as I whirl around to Mienshao, who has gone pale as he looks back to me.

"The Emperor…"

"We have to get inside." I start back along the walkway. "Is this way faster?"

"Should be." Mienshao collects Delphox and guides him along with us. "The opposite side will lead to the tower."

"Good. Let's go!"

Hurrying along, I pass the pillars and round the corner first, along the palace's front. Before I go any further, the icy debris catches my attention.

And then I see him plummeting.

"GRENINJA!"

He doesn't stir as he falls; his body is mostly limp as he drops past.

Lifting my leg, I kick hard against the weak spot along the railing. It breaks off easily. I back up a bit and run forward as Mienshao cries out.

"What are you doing?!"

His voice is still ringing out as I dive down, and I plunge after Greninja.

The waterfalls from the iceberg mercilessly cascade below.

My weight brings me closer to him in seconds, and I reach out for him.

I miss, and flail in the air, as we drop closer to the icy waters.

Again, I throw my arm out, nab him this time, and wrap it around his back. Pulling him closer to me, I get my other arm around him and lock us tightly together as we crash down.

Underwater, I lose my grip on Greninja, and the current pushes him further out.

My hand snatches his foot before he slips away, and I bring him back close to me, throwing my arms back around him.

The current pushes us along, and we re-emerge near the first waterfall.

"Hang on," is all I can manage out. My grip on Greninja tightens.

We went over the fall, and after we drop, it forces us back under the water. My shell hits the bottom, knocking Greninja looser, but I keep him with me this time, as we rebound back above.

The water continues to pull us along, and we go over a second fall. The palace is far as we pass the iceberg's great staircase, and drift towards another waterfall.

Sputtering as I struggle keeping us above the water's surface, I gasp out for a deep breath. Before the current drags us back below, however, we jolt to a halt.

Slowly, my body feels like something is dragging me from the water. It's not too forceful, but there's weightlessness to my body. I glance down and see a cyan aura glowing around us.

Across the way and at the base of the stairs, Mewtwo outstretches his arm as his eyes glow in the same light as we're in. He grunts as he grabs his arm with his other hand, guiding us out and over.

Froslass descends beside him, and her eyes glow a darker blue or purple. The aura around Greninja and I shifts to an indigo light, and we fly over with ease.

Carefully, Mewtwo and Froslass set us down, as Weavile and Delibird help Greninja from my arms and to the ground.

"What happened?"

"Is he ok? Are they?"

"Greninja!" I drag myself back to his side, and lean over him. "Greninja, please. Wake up." My hand cups his face, and I tremble as I rest against him. "Come on. Please, Greninja, please wake up."

He doesn't move. I can feel my heart hammering as I sink down closer to him. Mewtwo leans down to us, and he places his hand against Greninja's body.

"…Ah! There." Mewtwo taps Greninja's chest and nods. "He is alive."

Plucking my hand and placing it by his chest, I wait a moment, but feel nothing. I move it around, but Mewtwo grabs it. I glance up to him, and he smiles to me. Gently, he guides my hand to the best spot, and Greninja's heartbeat settles mine.

"Someone needs to get to the castle," I hear Weavile determine.

"You're the fastest," reminds Froslass. "Go get them."

Footprints crunch down and off, fading away from us. My breathing is rough as I struggle to catch and steady it. Mewtwo rests his hand on my shoulder as I remain over Greninja, while Delibird pats me.

"He'll be ok," he reassures me. "We'll all be ok."

It's a twisted echo of what I told Mienshao at the top of the palace, and I know that we're both wrong about that.

Snow crunches beneath me as I shift my weight around. A snowflake falls over Greninja's face, and then another. The streets are quiet, and I think the assault on the Iceberg Empire is over. But…something still feels wrong…

Still, the snow continues to fall.

---

[Frozen Fields]

Snowflakes drift across the air, with the wind carrying them past the snowy fields and wasteland.

Roaring, Garchomp storms for Machamp, who pivots from the dragon's glowing claws. Parrying one strike, Machamp slices through for another, and cuts Garchomp.

Though he pulls back, Garchomp howls and rushes at the knight again. This time, a fuchsia orb blasts him back, and he stumbles as Machamp punches him further away.

Alakazam closes in, but slows as Machamp lifts his arm to halt him. He twirls his spoons around as Garchomp straightens himself.

Charging again, Garchomp swings his claws wildly through the air, spiraling as he attacks Machamp, and knocking him from his feet with his tail.

As his claw rears back and comes down, Machamp raises all four swords to block. An indigo pulse bursts from Garchomp's claw, and pushes harder against Machamp, as he breaks through the snow and ice behind him.

Several colorful waves blast at Garchomp, though have little effect on him. Alakazam lowers one arm, and lifts the opposite one, aiming as Machamp struggles to hold off his opponent.

"Sorry."

Rotating his spoon in his hand, it slides from his grip and spirals around, with wind and snow circling Alakazam's wrist.

He opens his hand, and the frost rushes through the air, with a cyan beam guiding it directly into Garchomp.

Wailing as the icy blast forces the dragon back, he stumbles and crashes against the ground. Quickly rising, he hurries off, disappearing behind a frosty boulder.

Running to Machamp, pushing out of his snow indentation, Alakazam helps him up the rest of the way, and up to his feet.

"Nice ice," playfully compliments Machamp. "That really rattled him, huh?"

"Too much so," murmurs Alakazam. "If I do that too much, I could kill him like that."

"Ah, your spells don't hit as hard as the real stuff would," soothes Machamp. "If that were an actual Ice Beam, he'd be finished."

"All the same, we're not looking to hurt him like that," insists Alakazam. He gently touches at Machamp's arms. "I need to get back through to him, and find out what's wrong with his mind."

"Hurting him might help with that," debates Machamp. "He's too aggressive like this. If we battle him down to submission, we could end up using that to help us."

"Damaging him makes his mind too inaccessible," argues Alakazam. "If we can glimpse in and see—"

"What's to see?" Machamp wraps his lower arms around Alakazam's waist. "He's under mind control. We need to get him restrained so we can—"

"Bring him back to the palace?" Alakazam tilts his head. "And then what? As soon as he wakes, he goes on a rampage and destroys everything." He brushes his mustache. "If we don't figure out what's wrong with him here, he'll be too dangerous to bring in. We don't know what type of control this is, if it's just hypnosis or more."

"…There's stuff stronger than that?"

"Quite." Alakazam drums his spoon. "Hypnosis is a temporary method of control. There are tricks, spells that can make effects last longer, if not permanently."

"Gods."

"That's why I want to solve it now," insists Alakazam. "He's strong, but we're handling him so far." He smiles up to Machamp. "If I get into his mind again, I'm sure that I can help him."

"You've got a big heart, you know that?"

"Not always." Alakazam lowers his head. "But I want to do better—"

"Hey." Machamp lifts Alakazam's chin up and gazes into his eyes. "This is better, and you're more compassionate than you realize."

Scraping interrupts their moment, and both break away as Garchomp scratches the side of the boulder. His vacant yellow eyes survey the fields before him, and he locks his attention onto his enemies.

Machamp sheathes two of his four swords, and smirks to Alakazam.

"Give me a little support, and I'll help you in."

"You don't have to restrain him yourself."

"No, but maybe I can get in one of your heads too." Machamp winks to Alakazam. "More so into his, since I'm in yours all the time."

"That's the other way around."

"Wasn't talking literally." Machamp laughs as he pivots back to Garchomp. "But you knew that!"

"Yes, I did." Alakazam chuckles. "And you know you're right."

Rushing to the dragon, Machamp's feet kick up snow from each heavy step. He lowers his eyes as Garchomp stomps to meet him, and the two leap at one another.

As Garchomp swings a claw down, Machamp lifts his sword to block it, and punches with a free hand. Garchomp growls, and drives his next claw forward.

Lifting his second sword, Machamp knocks the dragon's claw away, and punches Garchomp across the face.

Rearing back, Garchomp's teeth glimmer, and he snaps at Machamp, crunching down with his sharp fangs. Machamp sidesteps from the dragon, as a colorful orb bursts into Garchomp and knocks him around.

With his free hands, Machamp swings his fists, with one punch landing after another. He knocks in ten punches as Garchomp pivots away and sweeps with his tail.

"Not this time!"

Machamp hops over the tail, and swoops down, swinging his leg low. He knocks into Garchomp's ankles, and the dragon falters.

Still, Garchomp flails his arms around, and maintains his balance. He roars as his fangs and claws flicker, but before he can recover, two more fuchsia orbs pelt him, and force him into blocking.

Before he can lower them, two fists fly up and smash Garchomp up across his face. Machamp punches at the dragon's side, and then follows up against the other.

Twisting around behind the dragon, Machamp grabs at his arms, and pulls them back. Garchomp howls and thrashes against the grip, but Machamp steps on the end of the dragon's tail, and locks his arms behind his back.

"Got him! Do it now!"

Alakazam lifts his hand, and both of his spoons circle around it. Garchomp pulls hard against Machamp's grip, but he's unable to break free. As his free hand touches his head, Alakazam's eyes glow in a bright blue light.

Howling, Garchomp rears his head back, with a blue aura encasing his forehead. Machamp tightens his hold, but Garchomp slowly relaxes under his grip, his eyes lowering until they close.

"Good, finally." Machamp sheathes his remaining two swords, and pats Garchomp's shoulder. "Just relax. My boyfriend knows what he's doing."

Opening his eyes, Garchomp blinks, and finds himself in a darker wasteland. His shoulders lower, as Alakazam steps forward through the mist.

That's weaker than before, notes Alakazam.

"You're…you're back." Garchomp softly grins. "I thought…I thought I'd never…"

Easy, soothes Alakazam. I'm here, and I'm not giving up on you. He studies Garchomp, whose entire expression is softer than before. You seemed a lot more panicked before.

"I think you're doing better," points out Garchomp. "My body feels weaker, but it's also helping me retake my mind." He smirks. "Plus, your boyfriend out there is kind of fun to listen to."

Huh?

"Hey, I wonder if you can hear me," murmurs Machamp. "Alakazam can usually hear me when he does the mind link. Ooh, I wonder if he can hear me while he's in there with you."

He's supposed to be quiet so you can concentrate, grumbles Alakazam, lightly blushing.

"Honestly, you two are the first voices in my mind that I'm actually happy to hear." Garchomp laughs, and then sighs. "It reminds me of…um, someone I was close with."

Who you were…? Alakazam tilts his head. That Flygon?

"You know him?" Garchomp steps forward. "Is Gon doing ok?"

He's…fighting my friends.

"Oh." Garchomp deflates. "What for?"

His allies are trying to capture and destroy the Iceberg Empire.

"Wait, what?" Garchomp shakes his head. "That doesn't make sense. Flygon's not part of any armies."

Well, he's certainly joined up with one nowadays.

"That makes no sense." Garchomp grips at his head. "Flygon, why…?"

You two are technically on the same side. Alakazam blinks as Garchomp raises an eyebrow at him. Didn't you know that?

"But…I'm not part of an army."

Are you entirely unaware of what's going on? Alakazam folds his arms. You're part of the same army, fighting the Iceberg Empire.

"Is that why we're…?" Garchomp's tail curls around his legs. "That fighting, I'm doing that." He shudders as he lifts his claws to his head. "Oh gods, that's real. That's all real. Everything that I can see, I'm causing—"

Calm down, please. You must remain calm. Alakazam lifts his arms, and Garchomp shivers before slowly lowering his. We're trying to figure out how to free you—

"Don't bother." Garchomp straightens himself up. Fog rolls in and increases around the two. "Just kill me. Right now, just do it."

What? Alakazam shakes his head. No, we're trying to avoid that.

"This is what you don't understand." Tears line Garchomp's eyes. "I know I'm not in control, and I know someone else has my mind under…under…" He shakes his head and squeezes his eyes shut. "Before, I didn't want you to leave, but I need you to go. Giving me this much—"

Please, stop. Alakazam reaches out with his hand. We'll help you. We are helping you.

"That's not what this is," warns Garchomp. He slowly opens his eyes. "This is an experiment, and that other one is making a game out of it."

Yes, the other, you mentioned that last time.

"The other is letting me have this conversation with you."

…How…why?

"Look, I don't know, but I don't want to hurt anyone else." Garchomp steps back. "Please, just end this before—" He gasps. "Be…fore…"

His pupils dilate, and Garchomp reaches for his chest. They then constrict, and he quakes as he crouches down.

Bright red pulses ripple beneath his body.

Garchomp? Alakazam steps forward, and the snow crunches below him. Looking back up, Alakazam spots the sky returning through the darkness. No, not yet. Garchomp! Stay with me!

"Hey, are you all right?" Machamp's voice echoes around them, louder than before. "Why are you shaking like that?"

Wheezing, Garchomp hacks and grips tightly in on his body. Alakazam tries to take a step back toward him, but a gentle gust blows past him. He pauses, and then steps back. He gazes to Garchomp's eyes, as the dragon struggles to return the focus.

Heaving, Garchomp can only manage, "Sor…ry…"

Beneath him, the red pulses expand and ripple out further. A rainbow light surges around Garchomp, and he screams out, as the flash engulfs him.

Covering his eyes, Alakazam shields himself as the world brightens around him.

"What the hell is this?!"

Snapping his eyes open, Alakazam scans the fields, and spots Machamp backing away from a rainbow pillar of light.

"Alakazam, what did you do—?"

"Machamp, get away from him! Now!"

Hurrying away from the immense surge, Machamp rushes back to Alakazam, as shards of snow and ice whiz past them, flying back from the burst of light.

It surges as it towers to a climax, and slowly evaporates from the icy land.

Garchomp lets his arms dangle, but his claws and fins are no longer there, with massive red scythes in their place. Spikes jut out from his body, sharper than those from before, with two red ones against his knees.

His head lowers from its skyward gaze, and Garchomp's eyes are fiercely wider than before. He grins as his jaw closes a bit more, but his mouth remains open.

"Wh…what is that…?" Machamp shudders as he takes a step back.

"That's…that's a…" Alakazam swallows. "Mega Evolution."

"Mega…?!" Machamp whirls around to Alakazam. "That's real? That's a really real thing? Folks weren't just chasing fairytales and legends?"

"Apparently not."

Erupting a piercing roar, Garchomp charges across the snowy fields, dragging his scythes low to the ground, and tearing the ice from it as he storms across.

As Machamp and Alakazam take a couple of steps back, Garchomp reels his arms back and slams them hard against the ground.

The tremors ripple and pulse before breaking the earth before him, and knocking both Alakazam and Machamp from their feet.

Pushing back to his feet, Machamp withdraws his swords, and steps in front of Alakazam. He waits as his mage stands up behind him, and they retreat as Mega Garchomp rushes at them.

"How do we stop that?!"

"No idea!"

"You're the one with the ideas, think!"

"Two minutes ago, this was mostly a myth!"

Twisting back, Alakazam launches a stream of pink light, which Garchomp ducks and runs past.

Kicking up a stone, Machamp grabs it and flings it back, but Garchomp slices it in half and knocks it away.

Both pick up their pace, but fail to distance themselves, as Mega Garchomp closes in on them.

Wrapping himself close to Machamp, Alakazam tightly grips him and they vanish from Garchomp's sight. Skidding to a halt, Mega Garchomp searches the area wildly.

Reappearing in a flash behind an icy boulder, Alakazam releases Machamp, and both sink down against the stone, panting as they grab their chests. They steady their breathing as they listen for their enemy to return. Machamp grips the rock, and slowly slides along it, but stops himself from the edge, and retreats back to the middle. Alakazam eyes a larger stone in the misty distance, and squints, spotting the cavern's opening.

"We can probably still fight him, right?" Machamp's whispers take a moment to register with Alakazam, but he turns to his partner. "It's…not impossible, is it?"

"No one's encountered anything like this in ages," mumbles Alakazam. "We have no idea what we're doing."

"Yeah, but we can fight." Machamp smirks a bit. "Let's see if we can beat him, get him back to normal, and maybe he'll be free from that super mind control."

"Machamp, what if this is part of that mind control?" Alakazam gestures past the boulder. "Mega Evolution is powerful enough to warp one's mind entirely!"

"But there are stories about heroes using it—"

"And villains!"

"Well…we have to try." Machamp smiles to Alakazam. "Nothing happens if we stay here, you know."

"Yes, but…" Alakazam inhales sharply, and slowly releases his breath. "We can try this, but let's not stay…out…" He covers his mouth and gasps. "No."

"What is it?"

"We…we have to stop him." Alakazam gazes into Machamp's eyes. "If we leave here, he'll go for the city. We need to keep him away from there."

"Ah, I didn't even think of that." Machamp nods. "Ok, ok, it's definitely a fight."

"He told me to kill him." Alakazam lowers his hands from his mouth and shivers. "Machamp, we can't…"

"If we don't, then he could destroy the whole city." Machamp pats Alakazam's shoulder. "If it comes to that…but only if."

"Right."

Rising back from the ground, both nod to each other, bringing a hand together with the other's hand. Squeezing tightly, they gaze into each other's eyes before they turn to step out.

As soon as their feet crunch against the snow, the rock behind them shatters, as Mega Garchomp tears through it. Machamp grabs Alakazam and jumps back, pushing his boyfriend behind him.

Twirling his spoons, Alakazam whips an orb out, crackling with a cyan energy, and tosses another, with orange flares. Each blasts against Garchomp, who doesn't even flinch from the spells.

Machamp waits as Mega Garchomp storms to him, and raises his swords. Just one scythe cleaves down, breaking his stance apart.

Pivoting from the rising scythe, Machamp slashes at Garchomp's body, but gawks, as the blade doesn't even cut past his scales.

He backpedals as Alakazam unleashes a stream of colorful waves against Mega Garchomp, as the dragon roars, and chases after the knight.

Garchomp gains on Machamp quickly, while none of Alakazam's spells impede his advances. Spinning around, Machamp swings at Garchomp, who evades his slashes.

Swiping across, Mega Garchomp's scythes cut through Machamp's armor, slashing at him. He yelps and stumbles back, lifting two of his swords to block the dragon's attacks.

A heavy blast of ice streams through the air, as Garchomp twists away from Machamp to dodge it. He glares at Alakazam, who lowers his arm.

Turning back to Machamp, he pulls his arm back. Machamp stabs forward with one sword while punching with another hand. Scales snap, but nothing breaks through enough as Mega Garchomp swings forward and up.

Though he backs away to avoid most of the stab, Machamp gags as the scythe pierces into his stomach.

"MACHAMP!"

Darting across the fields as quick as his feet can carry him, Alakazam rushes for Machamp as he staggers in place.

Pulling back on his scythe, Mega Garchomp flicks some of the blood away, and cleaves down with his other arm.

It slams into the snow and breaks the ground, with Machamp disappearing in a flash.

Reappearing from a distance away, Alakazam pushes Machamp back against a glacier, and holds his hand over the wound. A soft pink light shines as he concentrates on the wound.

"You're going to be ok, you'll be ok," manages Alakazam, his eyes wide as he waves his hand across the wound. It doesn't fade. "Gods, please."

"Ah…Alakazam…"

"Hush, don't talk." He pats Machamp gently, still focusing on his bleeding body. "Just let me take care of this…"

"Alakazam!"

Twisting around, Alakazam spots Garchomp charging at them, leaping up and dropping with both scythes out.

Disappearing in another light flash, Garchomp smashes through the glacier, growling at his missing targets.

A flash emits from behind a boulder, as Alakazam props Machamp back against it. He pants and brushes his brow, glancing back for Garchomp, and then ahead for the cavern. It's closer to them, as they close the distance for it.

"Stop…doing that…"

"Don't worry, it's only been a few so far."

He refocuses his attention Machamp, and uses both hands under the pale glow. Machamp's stab mark fades more this time, and he exhales with less of a struggle.

Carving screeches ring out behind them, and Alakazam latches onto Machamp, teleporting away as Garchomp rips through the rock.

Reappearing in the middle of the fields, Alakazam stumbles, struggling with Machamp's weight as he tries to regain his balance.

"Not here, not here," grumbles Alakazam. "Just calm down, you just need to focus on the destination…" He heavily sighs. "It would be easier if it was somewhere I've been before, but that's fine."

A roar erupts from behind him, and Alakazam spins around, spotting Garchomp running from the broken boulder over to them. Gripping Machamp, he teleports from the area, as Garchomp skids to a stop.

Surveying the ground, Mega Garchomp storms onward, with his scythe dragging across the earth. Lifting it as he turns, he veers down another path, darting past several icy stones.

Rounding past one of them, he spots Alakazam pushing Machamp back behind him, and spins around. Mega Garchomp cleaves down with his scythe, but misses as the pair vanishes from him.

Dropping his scythe back down, Garchomp slices a blooming blue rose, and rushes across the Frozen Fields again.

Back along the wastes, Alakazam reappears with Machamp, sinking to his knees. Machamp helps him back up, and Alakazam shakes his head.

"Stop teleporting so much, please." Machamp gathers Alakazam back up. "I'm hanging on, so don't kill yourself over me."

"We can't shake him." Alakazam shakes his head. "Why can't we get away from him?"

"Covering the area seems easy for him," notes Machamp.

"There's a cave over there." Alakazam points to the closer cavern. "If we can hide in there for a bit, you can rest and recover for a moment—"

Another piercing roar rings out as Garchomp reappears into view. Alakazam grabs Machamp and teleports away from the area.

They reappear, just outside of the cavern. Alakazam drops as he stumbles into it, and Machamp helps him back up.

"Cut that out!"

"Nearly there, it's fine." Alakazam lifts his arm and telekinetically drags a stone closer to the cave's opening. "Come on, inside, and I'll tend you properly."

"Quit exerting your energy, and just let me," insists Machamp. His hands grip around the cave's stone, and he pushes it along. "This isn't…too much—"

"Stop!"

Alakazam lifts his hand and hurries to Machamp, who glances down. Blood slips past his skin, as his cut reopens.

"Whoops."

Before he can turn, a scythe slams through the blocking rock, and smashes into Machamp, breaking his wound entirely.

"NO!"

As Machamp staggers and drops to the ground, Mega Garchomp storms into the cave. He glares down at the knight, and pulls back on his arm.

Throwing himself over Machamp, Alakazam teleports the two back, deeper into the cavern. He lifts his head as part of the rock soars for them. Alakazam's eyes light up as he lifts his hand, but he's not quite fast enough.

With whatever little strength remains, Machamp forces himself to rise, and uppercuts the stone slab, breaking it before it can hit. He collapses and writhes on the floor. His mage jumps up past him.

Retaliating, Alakazam slams his opponent across the cave and straight through the wall, rocketing him off into the distance. His eyes faded to normal and he quickly rushes over to Machamp.

"No…no, no, no," Alakazam murmurs as the mage lightly touched his lover's body, a bloody mess even with strands of armor in the way. "Machamp…"

"Ha…that one…smarted…a bit." Machamp coughs, with a bit of blood sliding from his mouth, and his voice is raspy, weak. "But at least…you're ok, right, Alakazam?"

"I'm fine," he tearfully assures the knight. "And you will be too. Just keep breathing and hang in there, Machamp."

"Ah…I don't know…if I…" Machamp coughs again, harder this time. "Ooh…that hurts."

"Then don't talk." Alakazam's hands light up as he guides them over Machamp's wounds. "You'll be fine, just sit tight."

"I wish…I told you sooner."

Tears slip down Alakazam's face as he shudders. Machamp tries lifting a hand up to stroke them away, but it drops before he can reach it. Sharply, Alakazam sucks in some air and begins to chant incantations.

"We could have been…really happy…together," continues Machamp. "A lot sooner, that is."

"Machamp, just be quiet." Alakazam strokes the knight's cheek. "I have this under control. And we'll have the rest of our lives together."

For a moment, Machamp quiets as Alakazam continues his spell. His breathing comes a little easier as he flexes his hands. Alakazam smiles as he continues reciting his incantations, and Machamp breathes easy.

"The others probably…rescued Emperor Empoleon and the city…" Machamp smirks. "We've…we've got to hurry home."

"Yeah." Alakazam brushes his eyes. "Yeah, we should get back there. See everyone again." Alakazam leans back and exhales. "Maybe I can pull off one last teleport—"

"Even if…you could make it, you'll…kill yourself over that."

"But—"

"Don't." Machamp gazes up to Alakazam. "Please."

"…Ok." Alakazam leans down to Machamp. "Just keep breathing…"

"Sure." Machamp smirks up to Alakazam, but he jolts as something bursts behind them. His boyfriend rises, but Machamp grabs his hand. "What are the chances…that you can just leave me?"

"Zero to none."

"Thought so…"

Forcing the stalactites and the stalagmites of the cavern to break apart, Alakazam throws as many as his powers can muster. Mega Garchomp slashes through each one that comes after him, with only a few striking him and none stopping him.

Sweat drips from Alakazam as he tosses whatever stones his eyes can spot, but nothing stops Garchomp's assault. He sinks down, heaving as his arms fall.

Even as he forces every muscle to work, Machamp is unable to rise, flopping back to the ground. He groans as he feebly pushes Alakazam, who stumbles. He spins around as Machamp's hands drop.

"You have to…have enough…to leave…"

"Sadly, I don't." Alakazam coughs and manages a chuckle. "You were right about…the teleporting."

"But…but you can—"

"Make it out? Maybe." He exhales, and crawls closer to Machamp, as the stomping dragon nears. "But I won't…get far."

"No…"

"Just let me…stay with you…"

"But I want you…to live…"

"And I wanted…to save you…like you did for me."

Turning back, Alakazam drags his arms around and lifts them up, creating a rectangular shape with his spoons. They fall from his hands as a purple barrier materializes before Garchomp.

He growls, and pounds on the shield. It cracks a bit, and Mega Garchomp roars, bashing it harder with each strike. Alakazam lifts one hand back up, and opens it to withhold his psychic shield for just a little longer.

"Don't…make me…watch him kill you!" Machamp wails and groans. "Alakazam…"

"Then don't watch him." Alakazam uses his free hand to tilt Machamp's head up. "Just keep your eyes on me."

Mega Garchomp's scythes shatter the remains of Alakazam's barrier, and the couple flinches as its fragments dissipate around them. Leaning closer, Alakazam presses himself nearer to Alakazam, and smiles as Machamp gazes back into his eyes. The scythes scrape across one another as they rise, and drop down.

They never took their eyes off of one another.

---

...

Thank you for reading.