Chapter Forty-Seven: American Lightning

Aaron and his team crowded the living room of the suburban house. His parents took their spots in their recliners while he and the others took the couch and the floor in front. Coffee had been prepared without sugar or creamer, both of which were luxuries scarcely provided, and only the three humans and Nora drank it. The typhlosion rested her head against Aaron's shoulder as the camera shot flew around the Nimbasa stadium. Malva spoke of the two battlers, their teams and their backstories. Elesa's all-female team had been replaced over the years – same as Clay and pretty much every other older professional battler. Yet neither Surge nor Wes had followed the practice, giving them a biological disadvantage against younger opponents. But with a five percent chance of winning, somehow Aaron doubted that Elesa would manage to capitalize off of it.

"Well, here we are," Robert said. "About time for the match between our former gym leader and secretary of defense for the fate of half the world…"

"What a time to be alive," Aaron murmured. It was about ten minutes until the start of the match. He never imagined himself in a situation where he had to root for Elesa and Clay of all people. "Thoughts?"

"I'm tired. I just want it all to be done with." His father certainly wasn't alone in that. Most of Unova felt similarly, particularly after the nukes had landed. All the political banter – all the rioting and looting – had paled in comparison to seeing one's neighbors eaten alive from radiation. Over the past year, every day had served to remind them that there were things worse than Omega's tyranny. Humanity untamed – anarchy – had brought the developed world nearly back to the stone age. And when death was just around the corner, it had a habit of making them think of what was really worth fighting for. With all that had been said and done, he felt like they had found just what that was.

The world was diseased. Nathan was right about that. But there was still hope that it could be better on its own – without being forced. That people could serve Arceus and one another on their own accord and leave behind all this petty bickering and violence. It was unlikely. Everyone had to make their own choice, and as long as mortals had been around, they had typically chosen wrong. Mewtwo was just another close example of that. But perhaps the near domination and destruction of the world would serve as the wake-up call that everyone needed. They needed to stop pretending to be gods.

As the battle drew near, Nora rested her head on his shoulder. Together they hoped for a five percent chance.

The airships had landed on either side of the field, each holding one of the two challengers. Drones with cameras mounted on them hovered throughout the skies in order to capture every possible sound and angle. Necrozma flew overhead, leading the airships which slowly orbited the area in the unlikely event of any outside interference. A single knight and one latios were the only other people allowed within the stadium, the first there to intervene almost like a referee, the second ready to transport any injured pokémon to the medical personnel stationed outside the walls. The former secretary of defense straightened the same uniform he had worn years ago, filled with medals and accolades.

"It's almost time," Nathan said, handing the general his cap. Surge secured it on his head, seeing his reflection in Nathan's visor. Both he and his team had not been immune to the passing of time, but their resolve and their will had withstood. People like himself were used to following orders, keeping any hesitation or misgivings to themselves. But there was no mutiny here; one couldn't betray a country that no longer existed. And people like Elesa were to blame for that. To say this fight wasn't personal on many levels would have been a lie.

"One final mission." Surge extended his hand which Nathan clasped. "Right in my own backyard."

"Almost poetic," Nathan agreed. "What a way to end the war to end all wars." The general nodded, his hand falling to his side. Five of his six pokéballs rested there, ready to fight one final battle.

A slight chill greeted him as he stepped off the airship into the empty stadium. The hydreigons took off and left two trainers in the middle of the hardened earth. Surge stepped forward. A glance over his shoulder showed his figure on the big screen, one that quickly disappeared and was replaced with a photo of each trainer. Five lit circles were under each. The knight stood with his weapon fastened at his hip.

"This will be a five-on-five battle," he stated. "Form-changing items are permitted. Weapons of any sort may only be constructed during the fight. Withdrawing a pokémon forfeits it from the rest of the match; they may not re-enter. The battle will continue until all pokémon from one trainer's side are incapable of fighting. You may not continue to attack when your opponent is unable to fight. Those are the rules. Failure to comply with them will lead to immediate disqualification. That said, this battle carries no regulations as to what moves or tactics may be used. You each accept the possibility of death by continuing. Do you both understand?" They nodded. "Good. Begin when you are ready."

Elesa wore the pantsuit she had often used when campaigning for Delta. They took their spots on opposite sides of the field. Through the camera lenses, both felt the eyes of the world upon them. There was no way not to. Surge spoke up. "At one time, I looked upon these cities with fondness. Of course, there've always been problems. They haven't ever been good. But Unova felt like home."

"Until people like yourself betrayed it," Elesa replied.

"Just like every other leftist, you have to rewrite history to fit your liking," the general spat. "No… I never betrayed Unova. Unova betrayed me."

"Whatever you say." She grabbed her first pokéball. But Surge wasn't done yet.

"I fought for this country. Took bullets for it… watched good men die for it right in front of my eyes. And then… you people seized control and perverted it. You drove everyone out that you didn't like under the guise of tolerance. It's your fault this whole damn war even needed to be fought in the first place." His hand went to the middle of his suit, gripping the uniform tightly. "You weakened our country, twisted its morals and abandoned its honor. I'm no traitor because the country I served is gone."

"We'll see about that." Elesa's blue pokéball glimmered in the morning light, the thin bolt streaking across. The strength of her resolve equaled his own, but her might did not. With a swift motion, Surge ripped his uniform off, hurling it to the side and leaving him in a white dress shirt. A pair of dog tags dangled over his chest as his massive arms threatened to tear the very fabric. The general grabbed his first pokéball.

"Electric pokémon are some of the best to have on your side in a warzone. You're about to find out why." They released their first pokémon, starting the battle.

Elesa's luxray stared down an electivire. Every member of their species was intimidating merely due to size and disposition, but this one was old. Gray had taken place of black fur and the gold had lost its luster. Lillian hissed, not seeing what there was to be scared of. As the clock struck ten, the first order was called.

"Swift! Then discharge!" The luxray immediately sprang into action, forming the projectiles as she sprinted towards the larger opponent. Her head raced close to the ground as electricity cloaked her body.

"Earthquake." Theo sent a rippling wave through the ground as the feline leapt into the air, sending her attacks towards him. The electricity was harmlessly redirected away as the swift attack collided. He let it happen, rushing forward to intercept her. "Close combat!" The words didn't even need to be said as Theo's fist crashed into the luxray's face.

She folded up, rolling over as though he'd stuck a knife through her skull. Elesa's eyes went wide. "Lillian! No! Get up!" The lioness stumbled onto her feet and roared out, blood spraying from a crushed nose and bitten tongue. Slow, methodical steps were taken as the electivire approached her.

"I'll make you die for that!" she hissed.

"Sure." Theo bent at the knees, taking his combat stance as the luxray circled.

"Quick attack and night slash!" Elesa said. Lillian went for the legs, realizing that her best bet would be in cutting his support from underneath him. Theo pivoted his foot around, bringing a roundhouse kick towards her as she came close. The smack of bodies colliding with one another echoed throughout the arena, her attack having softened as his impacted her. As Lillian tried to get up again, his fingers latched onto her mane, lifting her into the air as she hissed and writhed in pain. Theo pulled his fist back and slammed it into her face.

Her body slammed into the ground and went still.

Surge released a bellowing laugh, imagining the world to be in just as much shock as Elesa right now. The former gym leader ground her teeth as she recalled the beaten luxray. "What?! You thought just because we're older that we've lost our edge? That was all of what? Thirty seconds?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. "At this rate, this whole fight's gonna be finished before this cigarette."

"Like fucking hell," Elesa said, releasing her ampharos, a mega evotion following shortly after. "Helena! Keep him at distance!" She nodded, the orb on her tail flickering as she readied for the fight. Theo slung his hand to the side, flinging the blood off it. "Confuse ray!" The electivire ran towards her, each step a heavy thud as he shielded his vision from the hypnotizing wave.

"Close combat!" His punch missed as the ampharos sidestepped, leaping back while launching a thunderbolt towards him. He batted the wicked jolt away while stampeding towards her. Though he would have outsped her in his youth, Theo's age made their agility match one another. He formed a light screen over himself in case her attacks landed.

"Power gem!" Helena brought sediment from the ground and hurled it at the incoming electivire, watching as it cracked the protective barriers over his body. A swift uppercut to the stomach made her mind go blank. Elesa could only watch as the ampharos was forced into the air, her body lurching forward as the impact sent her flying. Her head bounced off the unforgiving ground. The embers around Theo's fist died out as the smell of burnt fur carried across the wind. "Get up!" The ampharos clutched her wounded midsection as she pushed herself to her feet. "Agility! Don't let him catch you like that again!"

"Earthquake." Surge folded his arms. The move was abandoned as quickly as it had started, the ampharos trying her best to keep her unsteady footing as he ground shook. Lightning crackled as Theo sprinted, his hefty body closing the distance. She tried and failed to dodge. The impact threatened to collapse her ribs; both the ampharos and her trainer knew she wasn't getting up.

But that didn't mean her fight was over.

Helena swung her tail around, catching Theo under the chin and making him stumble back in surprise. The disorienting wave emanated from her tail once again, this time having a much more open target. As the electivire struggled to retain his soberness, she struck with a dragon pulse, hitting him straight in the chest with the torrential beam of energy. "Not bad," Surge admitted. She had a bit of fight in her. "But it ain't enough. End this, Theo." He withstood the torrent, slowly stepping towards his downed target with a raised hand as she tried to double down. Through the gaps between his fingers he saw the white of her eyes. The panic. A downed combatant that knew her fate. But she wasn't willing to accept it. He grabbed the orb on the end of her tail, blocking it from his vision.

And shattered it.

It was the first time Surge had heard an ampharos scream in pain, a distressed bleat as blood dripped onto the ground. Theo grabbed Helena by her pristine white hair, staining it red as he lifted her into the air. The electivire was ready to end things the way he had with Lillian. But before he could, a beam impacted the ampharos and recalled her to safety.

Elesa looked down at the ball, somewhere between frustrated and terrified. There had been no reason to allow her to suffer, though, when the brutal result was merely a second away. Surge huffed. As he expected, this wasn't going well for her at all. Not when Theo was still standing and two members of her team couldn't say the same.

"And here they said your team was one of the best in the world," he sneered. "You absolute disgrace."

"Go to hell!" she snapped as the galvantula was released. The hairs on her large legs perked up as static coursed along the surface. Her two large eyes narrowed at an opponent nearly ten times her own weight. But that was about to be his downfall. Kali silently swore at her trainer for not throwing her into the battle in place of Helena. She would have won. The galvantula didn't wait for the call; she knew exactly what to do against an opponent like this and pelted him with a signal beam as she leapt over the moat and onto the arena wall, clinging to its surface. "Electroweb!"

"Squish her with rock tomb," Surge ordered. It was unlikely that Theo would even hit his opponent at such a distance, though. All but a few of his attacks were close-quarters, and that was the very advantage that Elesa's team was prying from him. Still, he ripped the sediment from the earth, hurling small boulders towards the bug as she scampered along, responding with a green beam when she could. One caught him in the face and knocked the electivire over. "Dammit! You okay, Theo?"

"Yeah," he murmured as he gripped his throbbing head. The hand stuck in place as a web slung around him.

"Then MOVE!" The electivire jumped to his feet and yanked the web, trying to rip Kali off the wall only to find that she had anchored it. Another one hit his leg, stationing him in place, then the other arm. Theo snatched at the webbing with all his might as he tried to escape. It did nothing. Kali lunged without missing a beat, the order to use leech life already put into action. Theo braced himself for the impact.

He disappeared from sight and she passed through empty air.

Surge pocketed the pokéball and clapped slowly. "Well done," he said. "Only took your third pokémon to take out ol' Theo. Not bad." He pulled out the next one – a choice that would easily outmaneuver this overgrown pest, and one that had served with him during the war and during his gym days. His starter.

The raichu's tail drifted in front of his body, a smirk appearing on his face. The lightning-shaped edge glistened as he hardened it in preparation for the fight. Before anyone could utter a command, he cloaked himself with a reflect. Kali chittered as she sized up her opponent, equal in height but twice as heavy. She had fought plenty of his kind before – a favorite among younger trainers.

"Roy… cut that gnat down to size."

"Signal beam!" He dodged the blast, ducking under the next one as he sprinted towards her. His joints were slower than they used to be, but he was still agile enough to evade the beams of energy. The galvantula leapt into the air and launched an electroweb underneath. A quick series of slices split it into shreds as he continued to pursue.

"Double team!" Surge said. Roy slammed an electro ball into the ground, sending out a pulse of light that temporarily blinded everyone as the illusory copies were made.

"Don't let him get close! Hyper beam!" Elesa cried. The panic in her voice fueled both Surge and his pokémon – an enemy about to dig their own grave. Kali kept retreating as she put her entire strength into the colossal blast, cutting through the illusions. A gust of wind nearly knocked Elesa over, and at that split second, she realized where he was going. "Get back!" she screamed. But it was too late.

A slice cut through the galvantula's front leg, severing the muscle from the joint as she fell face-first onto the ground. A shrill noise came from her mouth as Roy leapt into the air, his tail aimed downward, and speared through the top of her abdomen. "NO!" Roy sent an electrical current into her body, feeling as the bug underneath writhed in pain, her muscles twitching on their own accord.

Elesa withdrew her pokémon and looked at the ball fearfully. It was then that the latios flew onto the field. The shock of what had just happened had not yet worn off, but if Kali had any chance of survival after an attack like that, she needed immediate medical attention. The former gym leader handed the pokéball to the legendary, and for the first time in decades, uttered a silent prayer. But it was just as quickly replaced with rage. "What the fuck was that?!" she yelled. Roy walked back towards Surge, slinging the blue blood from his tail.

"We both accepted the risks," the general replied. "You should've withdrawn her earlier. Hell, you can withdraw the other two while you're at it. No shame in surrendering when you're clearly outmatched."

"Like hell we'll ever do that!" Surge shrugged.

"Your choice."

As he suspected, the emolga was sent out next. Her ace would be saved for last. The small squirrel flew over the battlefield. "Don't get close to him!" Roy's eyes traced her movements, not oblivious to the trembling of her hands. She was scared. She deserved to be. But the reality was that he would need to get her out of the air to accomplish anything.

"Focus blast," Surge said. He took the cigarette from his mouth, reduced to less than two inches and exhaled a puff of smoke. If they wanted to keep their distance, so be it. Roy launched a blast far faster than they anticipated, forcing Ava to dive out of the way and narrowly avoid crashing into the water. The raichu grinned and charged up another, sprinting towards her and flinging the massive orb of energy. She maneuvered constantly as he continued the onslaught, much like a fighter jet desperate to shake off a pursuer.

"Solar beam!" Ava swept skyward, the glistening metal of the stadium reflecting the sunlight and hiding her presence. A green beam cut through the field much like the fire of a minigun, scorching the sand beneath as Roy rolled to the side. She swooped overhead for another attempt, and as another attempt was made, Roy grit his teeth and formed another light screen over his body. Surge squinted until he realized just what his raichu was doing.

"You son of a bitch…" he murmured with a grin.

Roy went still, bracing for the impact, and before Ava could change her mind and avert her course, hurled a final focus blast before the solar beam connected. She realized too late that she had lined herself up just perfectly to get hit. The pain was immense as the beam brushed over him, but the squeal made it all worth it. Roy bounced upward as her body fell, spinning around and readying his tail for a swift slice.

Elesa recalled Ava before it could happen, heavily breathing as another one of her pokémon nearly fell victim to the same thing. Roy fell to the ground ungracefully, swearing quietly as he pushed himself up. "Smart girl," Surge said.

"He would have cut her in half!" The panic in her voice was worth relishing. The very woman who had helped ruin Unova was being brought to her own demise, down to a single pokémon while he still had three others.

"I wasn't aimin' for it," Roy stated. "But nothin' of value would've been lost if I had." His bones ached from all the exertion – and the fall. But he wasn't about to let that show. He readied himself for that final pokémon. Elesa's determination had all but left.

"Not looking so good, are we? Any chance of you winning went out the window when you couldn't bring your living weapon into the fight – your damn slave. Typical liberal – you can't win if you can't cheat!" It was about time to wrap this up.

"There will always be someone who stands up to you monsters," Elesa said, pulling out her final ball.

"Projection at its finest," Surge replied. As the zebstrika materialized, she kicked up dirt with her front hoof, accepting the fact that they were going to lose yet willing to make their final stand all the same. It was then the general did something that took everyone by surprise. "I'd say you've pulled more than your weight, bud."

"What?" Roy asked. "I can still fight…"

"Oh I know that. But it's not every day that someone has the opportunity to see Raiden. I'd say we give her that." The raichu went still, but then slowly nodded. He glanced towards the zebstrika and grinned.

"Alright then. Have fun." Roy disappeared from the field, ending his battling career there. He was one of the privileged few who had done so still standing.

Surge clutched the metal sphere in his hand, feeling the electricity pulsing from within. "You started this war. Now, we're about to end it." As he spoke, the few clouds overhead banded together, blotting out the sun. Elesa's zebstrika glanced upward, then back at Surge as he threw the ball.

Lightning struck the center of the field. It leapt out in every direction, smashing the big screen and destroying most of the drones where they were. Fiery debris fell as the rain began to fall. A raikou opened his eyes, fixating them on his target as electricity crackled from his paws into the ground.

All of a sudden Diane didn't seem ready to fight anymore.

Raiden walked towards her, droplets splashing off the ground as he prepared to finish this battle. His purple mane drifted as the wind picked up. "Your kind has been judged," Raiden said, his voice rolling like the thunder above. "And you have been found lacking."

"Fuck off," the zebstrika said.

"Yet even in the end you defy us. You will suffer the consequences of your rebellion." With a roar that shook the very air around them, he lunged towards her, lightning striking the field as he closed the distance.

"Flame charge!" The fire engulfed her body as the zebstrika raced towards her opponent. Raiden leapt into the sky, soaring overhead as electricity flashed and took over the stadium. The bleachers conducted his current, the winds obeyed him, and as a painful jolt was directed into her body, Diane all but fell over. For the first time, her own element hurt. Raiden landed behind the equine pokémon, slowly circling. She spun around and charged again. "Hyper beam!" She launched the attack, brushing his flank as he sidestepped before springing forward. The zebstrika barely had time to comprehend what had happened when he lunged towards her.

Claws found their way to her side, slicing the muscle open from top to bottom.

Diane cried out as he landed, pivoting around and sinking into her flesh once more. Raiden put his weight behind it and shoved her into the ground. The edges of her ribcage were visible through the deep gashes. Blood stained his paws. He backed up, knowing that she would not be foolish enough to try and fight with a wound that serious.

But much to his surprise, Diane wobbled to her feet. A final act of defiance. He closed his eyes. "Unlike most who take your side, you have courage," he admitted. "It is a shame you have placed it behind such an evil cause." Froth formed at the zebstrika's mouth, her eyes going bloodshot. Raiden's body tensed up as he roared into the sky. The dark clouds echoed his cry, responding in kind as the jagged strike was called down.

Elesa could only watch as her final pokémon was electrocuted without mercy. She went limp, bones flashing through the voltage. The smell of burnt flesh and hair overtook the field. "No… no," she said under her breath. Diane was immediately recalled and she looked down at the ball in horror. A red symbol on the button immediately dispelled her worst fears. The latios found his way to her side once again, a hand stretched out and expecting the ball.

Surge dropped the spent cigarette to the ground as Raiden slowly approached his side. "We could've killed 'em all," he said. "But we aren't like you." With that, the first battle was over.

"Well… fuck," Brooke said. "That went great! And she had a five percent chance?!"

"…Apparently," Aaron murmured. Malva had gone on about the details of the battle as if there was anything more to say. It was nothing short of humiliation – televised for all the world to see. That was the result of a mere six level difference? What then could they expect for their fight? Had Omega set these battles up, knowing damn well that nobody on earth could counter their trainers? He felt sick to his stomach.

"Do… we need to be worried about stuff like that?" Krista asked. "I'd really rather not end up like half her team…" It wouldn't surprise the trainer in the slightest if they learned that one of her pokémon hadn't made it after all was said and done.

"No," Nora said. "I don't think Nathan's team would do that…" Surge and his pokémon, after all, had made no efforts to hide their contempt for everything Elesa stood for. The news report continued with battle stats that nobody cared about while the atmosphere in the room was dead. It was when Malva spoke up once more that it became even more so.

"With Elesa's defeat, the chances of a dissenter victory have plummeted even further at an estimated sixth of one percent."

As she continued on about the sheer unlikelihood of that outcome, Robert decided to shut off the television.

A/N: Special thanks to FuryWrites for beta reading this chapter.