The Ally.
By Lakyan.
Disclaimer: I don't own pokémon. Satoshi Tajiri created them. Nintendo owns them. **sigh** I can dream can't I?
Authors note: This is the sequel to 'The Legends of Ecruteak.' Number two in a series of… who knows?
Eusine sat in front of the audience. Again, his Noctowl was by his side.
"You want more stories? Well you all came back didn't you? Last time I promised Suicune's capture didn't I? Oh yes. Suicune. The Ally. The pokémon that eluded me for 10 years. You'll know from last time that the Legendary cats fled from Burned tower 150 years ago… well…They returned about 15 years ago…Suicune was captured a year afterward. This is the story that tells how…"
Burned tower.15 years ago…
Suicune, Entei and Raikou sat on their haunches and looked at each other.
Raikou looked at the ruins of the once magnificent Brass tower and sighed.
Home Entei sighed.
Yes Suicune agreed.
The three majestic cats lay down to sleep and, as the legend says, vanished from sight.
Dale Epson had heard the legends. She wondered if they were true. But then, she was descended from Mason Hunter wasn't she and he was the one upon whom the legends were based. She had his Clear Bell, his Silver Wing and his Rainbow Wing. So she had a very good chance at seeing any of the Legendary Pokémon. So there she was standing at the doors of what had been the Brass tower 135 years ago. But it had burned down in a fire. The first tier still remained. But the roof, or the floor of the second tier, had long ago rotted away exposing the charred remains of posts and pillars, with vines and creepers wound around them, to the sky. Dale pushed open the doors and stepped onto the wooden floorboards. The boards creaked and groaned as she put her weight on them. She climbed over the rubble and approached the centre of the tower. She stepped down off a blackened log, half-rotten in the sunlight, and a loud ominous creaking echoed. With a scream of wood breaking she plummeted into a secret basement level, where the pillars and carvings not only remained intact, but also glittered with the sunlight spilling from the hole in the roof.
Dale picked herself up and dusted herself off, clouds of jet-black soot floated lazily to the ground.
Dale looked around and saw a raised platform. Atop the platform were…Suicune, Entei and Raikou.
Raikou howled and ran off, out through a hole in a far corner.
Entei too, howled and exited through a hole in the opposite corner.
Suicune leaped down and stood in front of Dale. He howled and ran past her and out through a vine-hidden gap near where the door to the first tier was.
Dale ran after Suicune and out through his exit. She saw him atop the wall and he disappeared over to the other side. She burst through the doors again and saw him scarper off into the forest.
Dale started to run after him, but a hand on her shoulder held her back. Suicune disappeared once again.
Dale felt a rage boil through her veins.
"I-I lost him!" Dale muttered.
Dale whirled around and got ready to punch the owner of the hand.
She socked him square on the jaw, knocking him down.
"Ow!?" the man complained as he got to his feet.
"S-Sorry." Dale said as she rubbed her hand.
"Don't need to be. I deserved it. My name is Eusine Hunter, and I've been tracking Suicune for 10 years." Eusine explained.
"I'm Dale Epson. And I've been looking for any legendary pokémon since I inherited some really rare items from my mother." Dale said.
"Well…How did you find Suicune?" Eusine asked.
"I fell through the floor and there he was, with Entei and Raikou too." Dale answered.
"Suicune is so majestic and beautiful. The way it runs, its movements are like liquid." Eusine ignored Dale's statement about the other two.
Dale grunted in irritation.
"Well I was chasing Suicune but you stopped me!" Dale stamped her foot in frustration.
Eusine jumped back.
"Well…It's gone now." Eusine looked at the ground, "But it will be mine!"
Dale glared at Eusine.
"You look just like my mother when you do that!" Eusine stated.
And Eusine found himself back on the ground rubbing his jaw again.
Dale crossed her arms and glared at Eusine once again.
"Such power…"Eusine awed.
Dale got ready to crack Eusine another one if he insulted her again.
"You can only be a Hunter...?" Eusine wondered.
"Epson actually. My grandfather was a Hunter though. His name was John Hunter. He was the grandson of Mason Hunter. So I guess I have the Hunter ancestry." Dale lowered her fist.
"John Hunter! He was my grandfather too! But through the blood lines I kept my Hunter heritage." Eusine said.
"So you're my…"
"Cousin." Eusine proclaimed.
"But you can't catch Suicune without a Clear Bell." Dale said.
"I know. But as soon as I find one, Suicune will be mine!" Eusine laughed.
"I'm gonna catch him first then!" Dale said.
"What?" Eusine turned back to Dale, "You have a…"
Dale had run off on the back of her Arcanine, laughing and holding the Clear Bell.
Eusine stood there, his mouth gaping.
Dale left Eusine with his jaw hanging. But that had been a week ago. Now Dale was waiting for her dinner to be ready. Her billy was on the open fire and the light of the flames showed that her tent was pitched not far away. Dale looked out over the river. Frogs croaked in the bulrushes a little way downstream. Dale sighed and focused on the bushes on the opposite bank. She thought someone was watching her. She concentrated on a bush in front of a tree. A glinting told her that something was watching her, its eyes reflecting the firelight.
Dale stood and stared hard at the spot and the creature stepped into the pale, flickering light.
Suicune howled and made off.
"Suicune!" Dale yelled, her voice echoing through the trees.
She stood, listening intently knowing that yelling Suicune's name would not make him return.
He did however.
He crashed back through the trees, leapt into the river and made his way to her small camp.
Suicune climbed back up onto the bank.
What? Suicune asked.
Dale couldn't think of any thing to say. So she stammered, "Would you like something to eat?"
Anything is better than Rattata. Suicune replied and sat next to the fire, patiently waiting for Dale to pull a large can out of the flames.
Dale opened the can and tipped some hot spaghetti onto two plates, for Suicune and herself.
They ate in silence. Dale looked at Suicune and thought, 'This pokémon of immense power is sitting next to me, trusting me. Shall I capture him now? No that will break his trust.' Dale put out her hand and ran her fingers through Suicune's mane. The legendary creature looked up at her.
That was delicious. Thank you. Suicune turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Dale asked.
I don't know. Suicune replied.
"Well…Can you tell me what Brass Tower was like before it burnt down?" Dale asked.
It was magnificent. Its nine tiers were more splendid as you went up higher. There were no stairwells. Only on the ninth tier, was a stairwell that went up to the roof. That was the only way to get to Lugia. But he flew away after the tower burned. But unknown to the towns people of Ecruteak, there was a secret basement floor built. That was the room we were supposed to sleep in went we were tired. But we preferred the third tier. Excellent view. 135 years ago, a boy called Mason Hunter climbed the tower. He looked so ridiculous climbing up the outside of the tower. So we let him in and guided him to the seventh tier. We left him there and went down a few tiers. Raikou fled up to the ninth tier saying 'Mason needs help!' So Entei and I followed him and stopped at the eighth tier because the ninth tier was on fire. We'd just got there when the seventh tier burst into flame. I heard Mason scream and without thinking I dashed up into the flames on the ninth tier and saved him from plummeting to the ground. Using my water I kept the eighth tier from burning fast. We held out for three days until the tower collapsed in on itself and we were all killed in the fall. Suicune told Dale his story, as if it were yesterday.
"What happened then? If you died…How are you alive?" Dale asked.
Well Ho-oh descended from the Tin tower and revived us using an ancient incantation and his Sacred Ash. After that we all fled from Ecruteak. Ho-oh too. We only returned a month ago. Tin tower remains but the once splendid Brass tower is now an over grown ruin… Suicune looked at his paws, tears forming in his eyes. Our home…
"But the basement remains?" Dale said.
Yes the basement remains. The only floor to escape the flames. Well at least that remains. It only reflects the true beauty of the Brass tower. Suicune smiled a little.
"Mason was my great-great-grandfather." Dale said quietly.
Was he?
"Yes. I got these from him. They were passed down through my family." Dale took the Clear Bell, the Silver Wing and the Rainbow Wing from her pack.
Suicune gasped when he saw them.
Then you could be...
"What?"
There's only one way to know.
Suicune took the Clear Bell in his mouth and placed it onto the ground in front of him. He then placed the Silver and Rainbow Wings on either side of it.
I call on you. Oh wonderful pokémon that has seen the time before time and the time after time. I call on the spirit that has all time and no time, the spirit that watches all from across time. I, Suicune, request your presence here. Then Suicune muttered another incantation that was a series of grunts, growls and howls.
With the second incantation the Clear Bell, Silver Wing and Rainbow Wing all melted together and formed a new object. The object had a round flat base and four triangular spires arranged in a four-pointed star with a gap in the middle so that none of the spires were touching. And resting on the four points was a glass ball with a green leaf in the core.
As Dale watched the spires glowed a blue colour and the leaf shone with a brilliant green light. The ball levitated in the air hovering a few inches above the object. The ball parted into a green ring about two feet across. A portal formed in the ring and a pokémon emerged.
The pokémon was small and had a large head. Two, what appeared to be antennae, protruded from above it's large blue eyes and swept back in the same direction as the long hair that grew from its head, first cream then darkening to green at the tips. It had two long green arms and two short green legs. On its back two small wings fluttered rapidly from its shoulders.
Suicune. You summoned me here? the pokémon asked.
This human girl is the descendant of the great Mason Hunter, the only one to dare search out the legendary pokémon. She has seen us while we sleep which is the first sign of the Chosen One. She also has possession of the Clear Bell, which is the second sign. So I've tested her and she has a kind heart, which is the third sign. The fourth and final sign is your foresight. Is this human girl, Dale, the Chosen One? Suicune asked.
The strange pokémon turned to face Dale who was now wearing a shocked look on her face. The pokémon looked into Dale's eyes and closed it's own. The pokémon breathed deeply and frowned as it opened its eyes and flew back to face Suicune.
She is the one. She will catch you first. A year from now. You, the Ally. Then Entei, the Advisor. Then Raikou, the Friend, Lugia, the Hunted, Ho-oh, the Saviour, Articuno, the Rainmaker, Zapdos, the Hunter and Moltres, the Destroyer. This girl, one by one, shall capture you. But you are happy with your capture because you will become her friends and allow yourselves to be captured after long battles. Not long after she has caught the Destroyer, she will encounter Mew, the Trickster, and a long battle will take place and the Trickster will be captured. Then all of you will summon I, Celebi, the Time Traveler, and I will be captured also. She is the Chosen One, destined to rule over us. Celebi explained.
Suicune nodded. Celebi put its hand on Suicune's face. Then descended down through the ring, which once again formed into the ball. The ball rested on the spires again and the item melted back into the Clear Bell, the Silver Wing and the Rainbow Wing. Dale sighed and sat down.
"What the heck just happened?" Dale asked Suicune.
You are the Chosen One. It is you who is destined to catch us. You are not yet ready to capture any of us. You have one year to prepare for the day when you catch me. In exactly one year from now, come to the Tin Tower. Show the three wise men your Clear Bell and they will let you past. I will be waiting for you. Suicune looked at Dale with, what can only be explained as admiration, in his eyes.
I shall see you then. Suicune said.
"Tin Tower. 1 year. Ja mata Suicune." Dale farewelled her friend.
Suicune turned and ran off across the river. He ran across the surface this time. Not swimming through the water. He disappeared into the trees once again.
For a year Dale trained hard and her pokémon became known as 'Dale's Titans' She met Eusine several times and every time he asked about Suicune. Dale told him nothing about Celebi or the secret item that she named Teru Sama. Occasionally she glimpsed one of the legendary pokémon before they ran off. Dale figured that Suicune had told the others that she was that chosen one.
She even met up with some old friends. They travelled together for about six months before splitting up again.
Far and wide she roamed Johto. Over mountains, across plains, through caves and even across the vast sea to Cianwood, training her pokémon for the upcoming battle.
The fire blazed and Dale sat down to eat some stew that she'd made. She ate in silence, which was unusual, for she normally had one of her pokémon out with her.
The wind picked up a little and the fire roared.
Dale looked up and staring at her from the other side of the blaze, was Entei.
It is time. He said quietly, then disappeared back into the trees.
Dale sat in awe for a moment, then quickly packed up her things and headed for Ecruteak city.
The Tin tower shone like quicksilver in the clear moonlight as she approached, the tiers glittering as she moved. The door stood like the entrance of a tomb, the carved surface of the ancient ebony doors shone dully from the reflected gleam as she stood before it, knowing who waited on the other side.
She took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she had. Taking a confident step forward, she thrust open the doors and passed within. Flames burned from ornate pyres placed in each of the four corners of the room and in the centre, where the swaying central pillar creaked softly in the serenity of the ancient place. Dale 'ooo-ed' quietly as she looked around, then gasped when she saw not only Suicune,
but Raikou and Entei also, all three waiting at the base of the pillar.
"What?…Why are all three of you here? I'm only supposed to battle Suicune."
The three nodded, then Raikou rose from its haunches.
To watch.
To learn. Entei rose as well.
"Okay, if that's what you want." She said hesitantly.
Suicune nodded, then leapt over to her, standing tall and proud before lowering into a defensive stance.
Let the battle begin. he declared.
Raikou and Entei leapt back , then sat to one side to allow the battlers room.
Dale reached to her poké balls, grabbing one and holding it out in front of her.
'This will be a most rewarding victory.' Dale thought to herself.
"Go! Leviathan!" she cried, hurling the poké ball and releasing the red Gyarados she had captured a few months earlier. The Gyarados coiled itself up and roared at Suicune, who growled in reply.
"Leviathan, Waterfall!" Dale ordered, the Gyarados shooting into the air while twisting its sinuous body like a corkscrew. A jet of water appeared within its spiralling body, and it fell onto Suicune with a splash.
However, Suicune was quick and leapt to one side, dodging the attack with ease.
Now it's my turn. Suicune said, and fired a blast of multi-coloured light at Leviathan.
"Leviathan, hold strong!" Dale yelled to her Gyarados, who bore the attack, resisting for a few tense moments, but was quickly overcome and sent flying back across the room to slam into a wall.
"Leviathan, return." Dale said and held up its poke ball.
"You're good, Suicune, but you won't beat this! Go, Seamist!" she threw a different poké ball out, this time a Dragonite appearing ready for battle.
"Seamist, use Thunder wave!" the Dragonite stood firm and fired thin bolts of blue lightning at Suicune.
However, it was not fast enough to catch the agile water pokémon as it used Agility to slip out of range.
Dale growled through her teeth and saw how strong the pokémon was.
"Seamist, use Hyper Beam!" she ordered, her temper making her rash.
Oh no. Raikou muttered when she gave the order.
Seamist quickly gathered a ball of glowing light in its open mouth, then fired a massive beam at Suicune.
But, to Dale's horror, Suicune did not try to evade the attack, instead it stood where it was and began to glow with a mysterious sheen. The Hyper Beam hit Suicune, but instead of harming it, the attack bounced right back and hit Seamist full-force.
"Seamist!" Dale yelled as her Dragonite skidded towards her across the polished floorboards.
She quickly recalled it, then chose her next pokémon.
I would be careful with your next choice, Dale. Suicune said mockingly to her.
"Try this one, Suicune!" she shouted and threw her third poké ball forth.
"Go, Fenrir!" she yelled, sending her Houndoom into the fray. It landed softly, and growled at Suicune.
"Fenrir, use Crunch!" the Houndoom leapt at Suicune, white canines bared as it prepared to strike.
Hah! Suicune scoffed and sent a stream of bubbles hurtling at it. They hit Fenrir and threw him back, but he wasn't beaten yet.
"Fenrir, use Crunch again!" Dale ordered, becoming stressed from the one-sided battle. Fenrir charged at Suicune again, this time on foot, easily dodging the Bubble beams it fired at the dark hound. At the last second Fenrir leapt, gnashing its fangs. Suicune breathed in and prepared for another bubble beam, but was foiled when Fenrir vaulted right over it and clamped down its teeth from behind. Suicune howled in pain, and Fenrir dashed back to Dale. Suicune glanced at its wounded leg, then glared at the Houndoom. Fenrir barked mockingly, then looked to Dale.
"Good work, Fenrir, now let's finish this, use Flamethrower!" Fenrir nodded and breathed in deeply.
Big mistake, Dale. Entei said quietly, then Dale looked at him and realized what her cockiness had done to her judgment. Too late for her stop it, Fenrir fired a jet of flame at Suicune, who calmly launched a stream of bubbles. The bubbles met the flames, then burst the flamethrower apart and slammed into Fenrir.
"Fenrir!" Dale shouted, but was too late. Her pokémon had been defeated.
'How can this be possible. I can't lose this fight.' Dale thought to herself and put Fenrir's poké ball back on her belt.
"Suicune, I refuse to lose this fight!" Dale shouted to the legendary pokémon, who jerked back in surprise.
"Go, Umbra!" Dale's Umbreon appeared from its ball, leaping gracefully into battle.
"Umbra, use Faint Attack!" she cried, the Umbreon nodding before fading into invisibility. Suicune looked around frantically, then grunted as an invisible foe knocked into it from the side. Suicune stood like a cornered cat, then yelled as another attack hit it from above. As Suicune went down, Umbra materialized before it.
"Excellent, now use Bite!" Umbra lunged at Suicune, but the water pokémon flipped up into the air and out of reach, landing behind it.
Got you!. Suicune shouted, and a blast of wind tore past it and threw Umbra across the room, landing it in a heap. Then, before Umbra could rise, Suicune launched an Aurora beam at it. The colourful beam hit with a boom and tossed Umbra back towards Dale.
"This can't be happening." Dale whispered to herself as she saw her Umbreon lying unconscious before her. But she quickly regained her courage and recalled Umbra, then looked at her two remaining poké balls.
'It's up to us now.' She whispered to them in her thoughts, then threw the ball in her left hand.
"Go, Bailey!" her Ampharos appeared with a cheerful cry, then it saw Suicune and narrowed its eyes.
This will be interesting. Entei murmured to its companion, who nodded in response.
"Bailey, use Thunder!" the yellow pokémon complied, its orange orbs filling with bright light before it blasted out a column of electricity at Suicune. Suicune stood frozen for a moment, then slipped aside and allowed the lightning to strike the central pillar with a crash. Suicune looked at the smoking blast, then smiled cunningly at Dale. Suicune tensed up, then dashed around the room, a continuous blur surrounding Bailey. The Ampharos looked around it, trying to follow the creature's movements, but it was futile. Suicune was too fast. Bailey was beginning to become distressed, glancing about frantically.
Then Dale had an idea.
"Bailey, use Zap cannon!" Bailey smiled and built up a wall of electricity, then fired a ball of lightning at the space where the Suicune-blur had been before. The attack flew straight as an arrow, and Dale thought it might miss, but smiled and cheered when Suicune tried to skid to a halt to avoid being fried but failed. The Zap Cannon hit Suicune with a flash, throwing it off balance. Suicune was helpless as it fell to the ground and rolled, tiny arcs of electric energy shooting across its skin.
"We've got it Bailey! Use Thunder!" The Ampharos grinned and shot a searing blast of lightning at Suicune. But as the attack fired, Suicune stood up, and smiled at Dale. She then realized her error.
Suicune glowed with that familiar shine, and the Thunder attack refracted back at Bailey without leaving a scratch on Suicune. As Bailey toppled over, defeated, and Dale returned it to its poké ball, she smiled grimly. It had all come down to Sven.
Sven, her trusted Arcanine. Most powerful of all her pokémon. She looked at Suicune, who was grinning mockingly.
'You can still win this Dale.' She thought to herself, then, taking a deep breath, held out her final poké ball.
"This is my last pokémon, Suicune, and he will not lose! Go, Sven!"
The Arcanine stood between Suicune and Dale, growling at the legendary pokémon.
An Arcanine? Entei and Raikou said and looked at each other wide-eyed.
"Sven, time to win another battle for me." the girl whispered under her breath.
"Alright Sven, lets start off with a Flamethrower!"
The Arcanine growled playfully, then unleashed a torrent of flame at Suicune. Thinking it would be of the same strength as the Houndoom earlier, the shimmering Suicune casually countered with a Bubble Beam, expecting another easy victory. However, instead of the fire attack being dowsed, the attacks tied in the middle of the battle area. Dismayed, Suicune tried intensifying its attack, but instead the Arcanine's Flamethrower began to beat back the streaming bubbles.
"That's it Sven! Show that thing who's boss!" Dale cheered.
Suicune barely had time to escape a fiery defeat as its attack finally buckled under Sven's onslaught.
Well, I guess we underestimated this one. Raikou said wryly to Entei as they watched their companion face the Arcanine angrily.
"Okay Sven! Fire Blast!" Dale shouted, her face split by a triumphant grin, her confidence flooding her veins like liquid fire.
The Arcanine crouched down to prepare, then launched a starburst of crackling crimson flame at the weary Suicune. The blue creature gritted its teeth and growled angrily, then held up its head proudly.
I refuse to be defeated by a fire type! it roared, then sent a jet of water like a tree trunk thundering towards the oncoming Fire Blast. There was a loud crash, then a hiss of steam as both attacks were dissipated.
Do your worst Dale! Suicune crowed through the billowing veil of steam, then dashed like a shadow towards Sven.
"Sven, look out!" the young woman called, but her treasured Arcanine was not quick enough as Suicune's Hydro Pump slammed into the richly furred flanks.
"NO!" she shouted and reached out feebly to the stunned Arcanine.
I'm sorry Dale, but it seems you are not the one. Suicune said with a smug smile.
But now you know that no one can defeat the legendary pokémon! then turning back to Sven, who was rising shakily, it struck out with another Hydro Pump, sending Sven skidding across the floor.
"Sven!" Dale cried helplessly.
Suicune howled gleefully, then fired its torrential attack again, but this time Sven was ready. He leaped back agilely, then looked to Dale.
"Sacred Fire!" she called in reply, her loyal pokémon obeying immediately.
Suicune looked up wide-eyed in shock, a single question escaping its thoughts.
Sacred Fire! it had no time for further shock as Sven darted nimbly in front of it and leaped into the air, then sent a comet-like blast of brilliant scarlet and gold flame at Suicune. The appalled water pokémon knew it could not escape, so instead it gave itself up to the sapphire quicksilver of its Mirror Coat. There was a vivid flash of white light as the attacks met, followed by an earth-shaking thunderclap. When Dale and the two observing pokémon lowered their hands/ paws from their eyes to look, the two combatants stood facing each other and bristling with battle-lust. A ring of tiny flames and scorched floor surrounded Suicune, and Sven's coat was singed and shot through with glimmering silver residue.
"Good gods." Dale murmured as she took in the scene through the wafting haze of white smoke that hung in the air. Raikou and Entei looked at each other and swallowed worriedly, as did Dale.
"Alright Sven,…" she began nervously, but was interrupted by Suicune's mind-voice, the tone like steel wrapped in silk.
You won't defeat me, Arcanine. For I still have a few tricks in my arsenal.
Then, in a blue blur, Suicune was gone. Sven looked about nervously, then pounced on a glimmer of blue nearby, but struck floor instead. Sven tried again, but met air once more, then looked about with rage in its eyes.
"Agility." Dale whispered to herself, then a wicked grin spread on her face as she had an idea.
"You're not the only one with tricks Suicune!" she yelled, then locked eyes with Sven.
"Sven," she waited as her pokémon returned her grin, "You know what to do."
Sven lowered its head, then vanished.
What?! Entei and Raikou cried in unison, for even Suicune could not disappear that quickly, and it was the fastest of the three.
As it leaped around the room faster than the eye could follow, Suicune was glancing about nervously trying to seek its opponent.
This is impossible! No Agility attack is that fast! the thwarted water type cried out, still not slowing.
"That's because it's not Agility, Suicune." Dale cried out cockily, "Sven! Extreme Speed!"
Immediately there was an eerie howl, then Suicune yelled as something large barged into it and threw it to the floor. As it rose shakily, Suicune heard a sound like faint rumbling, then it felt the wind of something passing close by and froze.
No! No one is faster than me! Suicune wailed as it tried to follow the faint rumbling, but Sven was too fast.
"I guess I am the one, Suicune." Dale said triumphantly, then whistled sharply. Instantly Sven reappeared, skidding to a halt at the far end of the room, then it turned to Suicune and leapt, its lithe form vanishing into a blur. Suicune turned and tried to bolt, but before it could even take a single step it was knocked down by the Arcanine. Entei and Raikou both stood and watched astonished as Suicune skidded across the floor in a cloud of dust. Sven stood silently as he watched his opponent slide to a stop, never taking his glittering eyes from its form. Dale walked up beside him, placing an arm around his frazzled and scorched ruff, and they both took a step back as Suicune struggled to its feet. Ribbon-tails whirling around it, Suicune turned to face its adversaries, then inclined its sleek head.
Well done Dale. I concede defeat. then with a heavy sigh it crumpled to the floor.
Dale stepped forward, removing a polished poké ball from her belt. She looked at Suicune one last time, then tilted her head proudly and hurled the sphere at the still, blue form.
It touched with a soft click, then opened and flooded the pokémon with pale light. The glimmering brilliance then withdrew into the ball, taking Suicune with it, before snapping closed and dropping to the floor. Then the four remaining figures held their collective breath as the ball rocked from side to side several times, then there was a soft chime as the ball lay still.
Dale's apprehensive face softened into a smile of disbelief, then she whooped for joy and hugged Sven.
The Arcanine howled softly in reply, then they both ran up and collected the ball.
As she picked it up, Dale turned around to Raikou and Entei, who sat on their haunches watching her, catlike grins on their faces.
You did well, Dale. You truly are our destined master. Entei congratulated her.
"Thankyou, both of you." she said and bowed respectfully.
Thankyou, Dale. For showing us what we have to look forward to. Raikou said and they both bowed deeply to her, then the two legends, lightning and fire, stood proudly.
Until we meet again, Dale Epson. Entei said in farewell, then both streaked past her in blurs of tawny auburn and vibrant yellow, the wind of their passing making her smile. As their thundering footfalls fell away into silence, Dale gazed down at the ball cradled in her hands and smiled sadly.
"Time to go, Sven. You've earned a rest."
And with that she lead her beloved friend out of the Tin tower with an arm around his grizzled neck.