Chapter Nine—Pikachu's Rescue, The Final Mission, and the Secret of the Shadow Revealed

(AN: And here we thought DM was never going to get here. We're in the final stages! -cheers and dances around- I swear I'm going to finish this, really! Only a few more to go, I can sense it in my feet! -DM)

-Realgam Tower-

It had been all night and Pikachu had not yet returned. Yuya was beginning to worry.

"Oh, maybe that wasn't a good idea after all... Pikachu could be lost, or worse.. and it's all my fault."

Fighting back tears, Yuya knew that Pikachu was her only hope. "I need to be confident. Pikachu will return. We're going to get out of here..."

"Pi-pikachuuu.." Pikachu whispered to itself. It had wandered far, very far from Yuya, and its cheeks were giving off dimmer and dimmer light. Pikachu was lost.

For a small pokemon like Pikachu, this floor was gigantic, and the darkness only added to the fear the Pikachu was feeling. But it would be brave. Pikachu wouldn't give up, because Yuya needed help.

This floor, Pikachu had noticed, contained all sorts of machinery, but few people. In fact, Pikachu hadn't heard another person since the two from earlier, it was so quiet. Too quiet...

The floor pattern changed. Pikachu halted, quickly. It appeared to be entering another section of the floor.

"chuu..."

Pikachu began to walk again, this time, much more slowly. This new area was, if possible, even darker than the other.

A door in the distance opened. Pikachu froze as someone began to speak.

"Yeah, this is Dark Troop 01, reporting. I've finished the final tests with Slaking. Yes. The Improved Shadow plan is complete, all of the pokemon have been converted. The Ultimate? Yes. It's even better than I expected. No, nothing else. The prisoner is secure. Cell 34-E. The jamming signal comes from the computer. The main one. The antenna. Yes. When the other Cipher arrives, we'll crush them. You probably won't even need the—what? I see. You're expecting the worst. Fine then. But I'm confident in the Improved Shadow Plan—I understand sir. Yes. Everything is on the main computer on this floor. We will succeed."

The voice faded out as whoever it was exited via another door. Pikachu had been fortunate.

"Pika," it said, no longer afraid. Pikachu knew exactly what to do. Find that computer... there!

A glow, faint from the darkened monitor, came off of a large machine in the center of the floor. An antenna protruded from the top. Pikachu knew what to do.

"Chuu!" A bolt of electricity flashed from Pikachu's cheeks, up and up, lighting the room, until it hit the antenna. A loud 'snap' was heard as energy crackled around it. Pikachu hoped that had done it, and was about to leave when the monitor lit up, a blue glow flooding the room. Words came on the screen. Pikachu couldn't read them... but an icon caught its eye. It said.. '34-E'.

Pikachu hopped up on the keyboard, and pressed the screen. Luckily, it was a touch-screen, and a loud 'click' was heard, off in the distance. A cell had opened, and Pikachu was almost certain which cell it was...

Hopping down, Pikachu rushed to find its way back.

-Nascour's Mansion-

Morning came slowly to Char. He had slept on the couch all night, never going upstairs to meet Nascour. His eyes fluttered open at the light, and it was in a haze that he rose to his feet, stretching.

"Today is the day."

Walking to the stairs, he heard Nascour's footsteps. He decended the staircase and stopped in front of him.

"When do we move?" asked Char.

"I already contacted the Admins this morning. They say that they're all set. They wait only for us."

Char gave a quick nod. "So let's not keep them waiting."

Walking together, they reached the outside of the mansion quickly. Standing in the light, crisp air, they both took in a deep breath. And then...

"Xia!"

The pokeball had been thrown, the shining silver Metagross stood before them.

"Rrrrrrrrr," the massive psychic rumbled, quietly. Even Xia could feel the tension.

"I need you to bring the Admins and their forces to us, Xia," Nascour said, looking directly at his pokemon.

"Rrr," was all Xia said before glowing blue, a bright blue that consumed the entire area.

Char closed his eyes. That glow reminded him of how far he'd come. The first time he'd seen it...

A loud crackling sound replaced the glow as the air filled with energy, psychic waves bended and fractured around in the air until it was silent. Another flash, this one white—and then the Admins appeared. Behind them stood rows upon rows of Cipher's peons.

Before anyone could speak, Nascour addressed the gathered crowd.

"Fellow Cipher!" he shouted out, eyes serious, voice powerful, "Today is the day we've been waiting for, we've been working toward! The day we claim what was ours before! The day we reclaim our Tower!"

A cheer. Nascour continued. "As enthusiastic as you all may be, I remind you, this will not be a simple mission! Our enemy, those who would dare turn pokemon into demons—this evil foe, has control of the tower at the moment. This cannot be! We must defeat them, we must drive them out, they must be destroyed! Only then, can we reach our ultimate goal. Only then, can we launch our full-scale attack on Orre!"

The next cheer was even louder. Nascour's speech was energizing, it gave hope and strength to the nervous Cipher.

"So now, I trust that we all know the plans. Those of you accompanying the Admins, you are to follow their orders exactly. You know your mission. Shadow Pokemon, shouldn't exist. You must destroy all traces of this evil method, everything they could possibly use to create them! In the new world, Shadow Pokemon will be nothing but a painful memory!"

"Nascour. How can you expect to fight alone? I know that the destruction of their Shadow Lab will take force, but Evice.. You need more power! Why not let us help you fight him?" Dakim said, clenching Gimubar's pokeball tightly.

"We don't know that, Dakim," Ein said, "in fact, we don't know anything. This could be easier than we think. My data on Evice's power in the past states that he would have had to improve much, much more to even stand a chance. His Tyranitar, while powerful, was still defeated by regular pokemon, as Char demonstrated. To defeat a Shining Pokemon, Tyranitar would have had to go way past 100 of its original power... I just don't think they could be able to create such an increase in such little time, it hasn't even been a year."

"Ein has a point. And we've fought their 'new models'. So far, every one has been defeated," said Nascour, hoping that statement would satisfy.

"They don't need our help. Nothing can stop us. Nothing can stop me, anyway," Venus added. "I'm looking forward to my battles—KitaKita and I wouldn't mind showing off."

"For once, I actually agree with you! Ludi-Ludi isn't going to be defeated. We'll dance circles around those Shadow Pokemon—ha!" Miror B added, smiling.

"I think a positive outlook is what's needed here. Sneasel and I have never been defeated. We aren't about to start."

"Char's right. We need to stay positive. It is true that we know nothing about the 'other' Cipher. But that doesn't mean they are invincible. That doesn't mean anything. We will defeat them. Orre is ours!" Nascour shouted, and everyone heard and was quiet. "It is time to move. Xia?"

Xia rumbled, and everyone braced themselves. Not for the teleport, but for the battles that were sure to come...

-Realgam Tower-

Yuya stood in shock. Moments after her cell had opened, Pikachu had come running back, urging her to leave and follow it. Not hesitant in the least, Yuya followed her pokemon partner, wondering what it wanted, and most of all, how it had opened the cell.

"Piika!" Pikachu said, pointing upward. They had reached the same computer that Pikachu saw before.

"What is..this?" Yuya asked herself, touching the dark screen.

Immediately the screen lit. Picutres, symbols, codes of some sort, all flashed up on screen. Yuya didn't know what to do, but a specific symbol caught her eye. It was like a crescent moon, dark, purple. It reminded her of the Shadow Pokemon...

Pressing this symbol caused the screen to flash once, and then... the computer displayed text.

"Improved Shadow Plan," Yuya read aloud quietly. Pressing the text caused the computer to display more. "Through our studies, we have gained knowledge on new ways to create Shadow Pokemon. Our previous method, which consisted of closing the hearts of pokemon, made them into dark beings with only limited capabilities. Pokemon with closed hearts give off a subtle energy flow called Shadow Energy, which is in the form of a purple/black aura... normally invisible to the eyes. The stronger the Pokemon, the more energy it gives off. Before, we did not know that this energy could be harnessed, and 'fed' to other Pokemon. However, now that we know this, Shadow Pokemon can be improved upon, limitlessly."

Yuya gasped at what she had just read. Improved Shadow Pokemon? Shadow Energy? Limitlessly? She pressed the next arrow.

"The Pokemon we chose to 'feed' our Improved Shadow Pokemon would have to have almost infinite power to begin with to be able to share energy with other Pokemon. However, thanks to a genius strategy by our leader, Evice, we have managed to capture our Ultimate Shadow Pokemon. A pokemon that can not only support our others, but still be powerful enough to fight and destroy any enemy. This legendary pokemon is invincible—none will dare stand against the power of..." Yuya stopped reading here.

"Oh... oh my god... No... this can't be.. It's impossible!" Yuya cried out in disbelief. There was no way what she read could be right!

But suddenly, the computer shut off. Darkness swallowed the room, even Pikachu's cheeks stopped flashing.

An eerie voice sounded. "I think that's enough information for you. I told Evice that you were trouble. He swears that you could be useful to us though, and that is why you live."

"Who are you?" Yuya demanded. Show yourself!

"I thought you could see Shadow Energy. Can't you see me?" the voice laughed.

Yuya focused her eyes quickly, and soon, she saw two glittering outlines. One of a man, another, a pokemon. A Slaking!

"I am Dark Troop 01, the same agent who brought you here, although to be honest, you did most of the transport work yourself. I am the highest elite officer of Cipher. I'm in charge of the Improved Shadow Plan, which you just read. Impressed?"

"There's no way. A pokemon like that—never! That pokemon would NEVER serve you!"

"You'd be surprised, Yuya. You'd be surprised."

"How do you know my name?" Yuya asked suspiciously.

"I've met you before. You could say it was in a past life. I've met you, and your friend, Char."

"Then who are you?"

"I am the soon-to-be leader of Cipher's Shadow Pokemon army. But you probably remember me as.. leader of Area 1."

"Vander?"

"They used to call me that. But that isn't important. It's time that we disposed of you, I think. Your eyesight is no more useful than ours, now that we've tuned our senses to Shadow Energy. So, goodbye, Yuya. Slaking! Atta—"

Just then, a static voice came on over the speaker system. "All Cipher forces to your stations, now! The enemy approaches!"

Vander halted his attack. "So be it then. You live a little longer. I'll return after my job is done. But..." he walked sharply up to Yuya, plucking her PokeGear from her pack, "this, comes with me."

The Dark Troop was gone before Yuya could even retaliate. And her chances of warning Char went with him!

"Pika?" Pikachu asked, uncertain of their next move.

"I don't know what to do, Pikachu. If he really isn't lying... Char.. Char is going to die. Nothing can save him... except.."

Reaching into her pack, Yuya closed her hands around the Time Flute, feeling a cool stream of energy flowing from it.

"This is our only hope now. I just have to find Char!"

Picking up Pikachu, Yuya raced off into the darkness. If Char was here, she had to find him. Evil or not, she wouldn't... she wouldn't let him die!

End Chapter Nine