Chapter Ten—The Battle Begins!
(Whee, battle! And a long chapter to boot! It's a miracle! -DM)
-Outside the Tower-
When the blue glow faded, the entire party stood right outside the doors of the mighty Realgam Tower. All was as it seemed. Nothing was out of place...
Ein stepped forward. Scanning the door with some sort of handheld device, he waited a few seconds, before speaking. "It's clear. It hasn't been locked, there aren't any traps, at least, not that I can detect."
"Then let's go." Char walked forward, opening the door. Nascour stepped forward to join him as they crossed the threshold.
Still, nothing. The entire group crossed into the tower silently, Char and Nascour at the lead. The only sounds made were the clicks of the electronic doors opening and closing, and the glide of the moving panels.
Making their way through the maze proved easy, there were no obstacles.
"This is too simple. Why haven't they attacked?" Char asked to himself.
Nascour replied. "I don't know. As optimistic as I'd like to be about it, I don't see that as a good sign either."
Upon reaching the door to the main elevator, everyone expected the worst. The door just HAD to be locked, right? Wrong.
Another scan by Ein revealed the door to be open and unguarded. Shuffling onto the large panel, everyone stood in silence as they glided forward into the final room, where the elevator would be.
The panel stopped in front of the door, the door clicked and opened to reveal... darkness.
"Halt, no one move!" Nascour ordered. "Ein? Is anything ahead?"
"The scanner shows nothing... but I don't like this. I'm picking up some strange energy in this room. I can't identify it."
Char stepped forward into the room.
"Wait, Char!"
"The floor's still here, isn't it? The elevator is ahead, I know it. They're probably using this dark room to stall us. While we stand here and ponder, they're getting their attack set up! Come on! We're moving."
Nascour nodded, and everyone filed into the room.
The elevator was indeed ahead, and the floor sensors were still online. The elevator immediately decended when Char stood in front of the doors, and when the doors opened, Cipher's forces entered.
The elevator began the climb upward.
"At the next floor, there are two elevators. One will take Char and I directly to the top. The other can be programmed to take you to the Shadow Lab. I trust you still remember the code?"
The Admins nodded, and Nascour nodded back. "Right then."
The elevator stopped, opening to reveal another dark room.
"They're really got a thing for darkness, huh?" one of the peons quipped.
Char smiled and answered. "I guess they do. No matter. The shining light of the new Cipher will clear away all of this."
Advancing into the room, they ascended the staircase to the elevators together. But upon reaching them, the group split into two.
"I wish you success. When we're finished with our mission, we'll contact you. We'll meet back here when we're all done. Victory to Cipher!" Nascour declared to the Admins and peons.
"We won't fail. Be careful."
With that, the larger group entered the elevator. The doors shut slowly, but when they had closed, Nascour turned back to Char.
"Char. Before we go."
"What is it?"
"If this gets too dangerous, what is your plan? If we can't win, what will you do?"
"I'll continue fighting for Cipher."
"Char. Don't say what I want to hear right now. There's a chance... that we could all die here today. And if it gets too dangerous, Char, I want you to—"
"Now you're saying what you think I want to hear."
Nascour stopped. "I, I guess I am."
"Let's not think about it. We're going to kick ass. I promised you that Orre would be ours. That was a promise, Nascour."
"Yes."
The two stood in front of the waiting elevator, looking through the darkness at the other.
"I don't want to let my emotions get the better of me. But I have to tell you. You may be right. We may die. And if we're going to die, I may never get to tell you again that I love you. So I wanted you to know. If we're going to die, take those as my last words to you, Nascour."
Nascour was about to reply, when Char pressed a finger to his lips.
"I know. You don't have to say anything more. Let's go now. The enemy is waiting."
Nascour was slightly surprised at Char's sudden emotion. Char... he loved him. It wasn't like he didn't know that, but... it just seemed more real this time.
He swore. He swore to himself that no matter what, even at the cost of his own life, Char would live. If everything else went wrong... at least Char would survive. That was his own promise.
Stepping into the elevator, each tucked away their fear. Pokeball at the ready, the two were prepared for the final battle.
The most dangerous battle of their lives.
-Shadow Lab Floor-
Yuya's mad dash through the darkness had led her to nowhere, it seemed. Finding her way through the lightless floor was impossible, it was as if every possible obstacle was leaping out of the floor to meet her unsure feet.
It didn't help much that it was absolutely quiet, any noise at all would have given her some clue as to where she was.
"Come on... anything! I can't save Char if I can't find my way..."
Then, she heard it. A humming noise, the sound of something mechanical approaching. No longer scared, Yuya raced toward the sound, finding that it was coming from what she could barely make out to be an.. elevator? So she had finally found her way off this floor!
As the elevator opened, Yuya and Pikachu were ready to attack whoever emerged. Yuya wouldn't be denied, she was going to save Char!
But Yuya's aggressive stance quickly melted, as almost-blinding light flooded out of the elevator. A voice accompanied the light. "It appears that this floor is dark as well. Ranbrage, keep that Flash going—someone's there!"
It took a second for Yuya's eyes to adjust to the light, which seemed so unfamiliar after all those hours in the darkness. When the light finally shifted from glaring to normal, Yuya saw a figure emerge—then three more. She recognized them.
It was just what Yuya needed, if not what she was looking for, or expecting. The Admins of Cipher, accompanied by what appeared to be Cipher peons, along with an oddly colored Lanturn—Yuya suspected it was a Shining Pokemon—stepped forth from the elevator.
Yuya didn't know what to say. Char did mention that the Cipher Admins were on his side... but that didn't mean anything. Whether or not they would help her, was another thing. That didn't mean she wasn't going to try though.
"Admins of Cipher!" Yuya announced.
A powerful voice answered. Yuya traced the voice back to Dakim. "You're Yuya, the former friend of Char, our boss."
Yuya didn't exactly like how Dakim had said 'former', but kept comments to herself as she replied, careful not to say anything of her meeting with Char earlier. "Char is your boss... well, I need to see him. Take me to him!"
"See him?" Miror B laughed. "Do you understand what is going on? This is going to be a battle zone. Char is busy. We're busy. We don't have time to show you around. Besides, how do we know we can trust you, anyway?"
"Do you want your boss to die?" Yuya asked sharply, her eyes glaring. "Do you all want to die?"
Venus laughed a little. "Die? We aren't going to be the losing side of this battle, understand?"
Yuya didn't believe that. "You're the one who doesn't understand. I've been here for a while, I've heard things, I've seen things... Your enemy, the 'other' Cipher—they're harnessing a power that cannot be stopped! Not by you. I'm the only one who can stop it.. I'm the only one who can save... all of you."
Venus was about to spit back a nasty reply when Ein silenced her. He didn't trust Yuya either, but he knew that something just wasn't right about their enemy. "Go ahead then. What kind of power is it?"
"They're using modified pokemon, much like you. Shadow Pokemon, only they're called Improved Shadow Pokemon. They've been 'fed' energy, Shadow Energy, the stuff that my eyes pick up when I look at them. They're much, much stronger than the old Shadow Pokemon though. Much, much more so!"
The eyes of the Admins widened as Yuya spoke. Finally, Ein urged her to continue, to tell them more. "Tell me, how? What method are they using? What is going on, how can we defeat them?"
"The Improved Shadow Pokemon, are feeding off energy from another source. I'm not entirely sure about this, but.. if this source was somehow kept from radiating this energy, the Improved Shadow Pokemon's abilities would be reduced, drastically. Perhaps even to normal pokemon strength. And that's where I come in, I know how to disable this.. 'source'."
"What is the source?" Dakim questioned, gruffly. "You speak of it as if you know what it is, but you haven't told us anything about it!"
Yuya paused. Should she? Should she tell this Cipher what she read? No... they were just as evil. They couldn't be trusted with this information, who knows what they would do if they learned about it... They would try to control it as well, for their own purposes!
"Well, go on already! Tell us about this 'source'! I'm sure that whatever it is, we can handle it, you won't be needed."
"No!" Yuya cried out. "The only important thing is that I see Char! I wouldn't be here if I didn't care about his well-being, you know this! All of your lives are at stake!"
"We can't allow that, Yuya. We cannot. For all we know, you could be working for the other Cipher—"
Suddenly, the light faded away.
"Ranbrage! What's wrong, why have you stopped Flashing?" Ein asked of his pokemon, his eyes darting around for any sign of the enemy. There was nothing, nothing, until... a loud roar!
"Raaaaaaaaa!" The dark outline of what appeared to be a Slaking appeared. Another outline accompanied it. Dark Troop 01—Vander, had returned.
"So I see you've met our guests, Yuya!" he laughed, his dark form barely noticeable in the darkness. Only Yuya knew who he was... the Admins were clueless.
"Show yourself, foe!" Dakim yelled into the shadows as he threw down a pokeball.
"Gooooooo!" Gimubar appeared in a flash.
"Oh, I don't know about that... My superiors have taught me that we have a serious advantage in the darkness. Blind enemies are so much easier to defeat."
Just then, another outline emerged, like a camouflaged animal revealing itself with movement. "This is true, Dark Troop. But—where's the fun in slaughtering a blind enemy? I say we grant his request. I'm sure you'd like that better anyway. Scizor would like that as well. We will lift this darkness."
"Zor," and another outline, this one shaped like a Scizor appeared.
In seconds, light spread through the room like fire, igniting everything it touched. The figures revealed seemed a bit disoriented... but only for a second. After that, the now-visible foes stood, confident, and dangerous.
The Dark Troop and his Shadow Slaking were to the left. The evil Cipher troop wore almost exactly what the old Mystery Troops did, except this uniform and helmet were solid black, and menacing.
And to the right, stood Gonzap, and an evil Shadow Scizor, ready for battle. Gonzap was not wearing a helmet... his eyes were dark, blackish purple. He looked different. Even more dangerous, if you could say that.
"I see you're looking at my eyes, Admins of Cipher. I wouldn't blame you, I was shocked at first as well... but I've grown fond of them. Being exposed to Shadow Energy has that effect on you, you know... Our ultimate source feeds not only the pokemon."
Ein flashed a look at Yuya. So she wasn't lying... What did this mean?
"You are doomed, Cipher. Or should I say, ex-Cipher," the Dark Troop said, flashing a wicked smile behind his helmet. "The Ultimate Shadow Pokemon waits for your bosses at the top... And their deaths, are also waiting for them. For you as well, but you'll meet that here, on this floor."
"What is this source?" Ein demanded. "What is this power you harness?"
"That is not for you to know!" Gonzap shouted. "Our job is to eliminate you. Nothing more, no more conversation. Scizor!"
"Zor!" The Scizor cried out, pinchers at the ready.
"If you ask for a battle, we will answer you with one! Time to dance, Ludi-Ludi!"
"My sentiments exactly—KitaKita, time to play!"
Twin flashes, the Shining Ludicolo and Delcatty were in battle stance.
"Ranbrage!"
The Shining Lanturn seemed to swim through the air toward the other Shining Pokemon. The Golem, Gimubar stepped forward as well.
Yuya was scared again. She couldn't get caught up in this battle, she needed to get to Char, right away! She was so close to the elevator. So close... she dashed for it!
"Stop right there! No one leaves this floor!" The Dark Troop ordered, and Slaking raced forward.
"Goooooo!" Gimubar answered this attack, reaching forward, pushing, trying to force Slaking back.
Yuya didn't turn around, she had to get to the elevator, she had to find Char...
The Dark Troop realized that while Slaking had enough power to break the Golem's hold, it wouldn't be able to do it in time. He would have to act. He rushed past the grappling pokemon toward Yuya... before a mighty fist connected with his helmet.
"Run, Yuya. If what you say is really true, then go. Save Char. Do what you must," Dakim said, holding the Dark Troop in place.
Yuya still would not look back as she made it to the elevator. Stepping inside, Pikachu at her side, the doors closed swiftly.
Dakim watched her ascend, before turning back to his enemy. Dark Troop 01 was seething with rage.
"How dare you... I swear, I swear this will be your death, Dakim," his helmet fell to pieces... Dakim's eyes went red.
"Vander!"
"I wish you wouldn't call me that. I gave up that lifestyle a while ago. I couldn't defeat you... you were always so much more powerful. The tables have turned. I will teach you that I am invincible! I'm not weak, I'm not! I was the leader of the weakest level of Mt. Battle, nothing but a stepping stone on the way to the top! I am the top now, Dakim... I will one day command Cipher's forces across Orre, and beyond! I am—"
"Silence! You are pathetic! Gimubar, Earthquake now!"
The rumbling attack set the entire floor shaking... Everyone knew, this was the signal for the battle to begin.
Ein, Venus and Miror B immediately teamed up. All three of them sensed that this battle was going to be difficult.
"Ludi-Ludi, Rain Dance now!"
"Ranbrage, Thunder!"
The floor was rumbling beneath them, and rain began pouring down from nowhere—the Shining Lanturn started to charge up for the blast.
"KitaKita, Double Team!"
A series of rotating Delcatty copies rotated around the Lanturn, providing a moving 'shield' against attack.
Gonzap didn't look impressed. "Scizor, Focus Energy now."
Scizor began to concentrate, waiting on uneven ground for the next command.
Dakim however, was anything but patient, his wild rage was building, he could see nothing ahead but Vander, and Vander's defeat... His intensity connected with Gimubar, the Earthquake grew stronger. The floor cracked and surged, the metal panels warping and falling inward, the floor was giving way...
Dakim sensed this, but in all his anger, could not stop the attack, A shout from the Admins was all he heard before he, Gimubar, Vander and Slaking fell through, and out of sight.
"Dakim!"
"Scizor, Slash now!"
Scizor wasted no time in ending its Focus Energy. Ranbrage fired back with a powerful Thunder blast—but the effort was wasted... Scizor was so fast, it disappeared in the rush forward, with only the sound of metal upon metal to pinpoint its location. The bolt of electricity snapped and crackled in the damp air... nothing.
"Impossible! Thunder cannot miss during Rain Dance!"
"That, is normally true. This however, isn't a normal situation, is it?" Gonzap laughed.
In a flash, every single Delcatty copy disappeared, and KitaKita was sent flying, struck by an invisible object. Scizor soon reappeared, having slowed down from ultra-speed.
"Zor!" Scizor whirled around, standing directly between the Lanturn and Ludicolo. Venus ran over to her Delcatty.
"KitaKita, get up! You're okay, aren't you?"
Miror B and Ein looked warily at their own pokemon. What had just happened, was unbelievable. A Shining Pokemon—defeated so easily?
Bracing themselves, the two Admins prepared their next attacks in their mind.
This was going to be a treacherous fight.
And right now, they weren't so sure about their victory.
-The Top Colosseum-
The morning light reflected off of the top colosseum floor. The stands were empty. The area was quiet.
Char and Nascour wordlessly stood in the empty expanse. No one had been there to greet them.
Sneasel and Xia exchanged looks of worry. This wasn't right. Evice and whoever else was supposed to be waiting, they were supposed to launch into the battle of their lives, the battle to end all battles!
But instead, nothing. Nothing at all.
"What's going on?" Char questioned.
"I don't know."
"This entire mission has made little sense. Our enemy doesn't show, our progress has been easy, too easy! Why weren't there guards? Why no defenses? They had to have known we were coming, this is Cipher's tower! It's almost like they're playing with us!"
Nascour was about to reply, when a quiet voice came from the other end of the floor, almost inaudible.
"Yes, it is like that, isn't it, Char?"
"Sneasel!" Sneasel jumped in the direction of the sound.
And there he was. The leader of Cipher, the final roadblock on the way to victory. Evice himself, looking rather calm, stood across the battlefield, tossing a black pokeball into the air, and catching it. "It does seem like we're not taking you seriously, doesn't it?" here he laughed to himself. "Well, forgive me you two... but we really, aren't."
"What kind of trick is this, Evice?" Nascour demanded.
"Nascour, aren't you happy to see your old boss again? I am certainly glad to see you."
"You're insane," Nascour spat, "We're not here to visit. We've come to claim what belongs to us. This tower belongs to Cipher."
"But Nascour, Cipher has control of the tower already."
"You bring shame to the organization. The true Cipher has arrived to defeat you."
Evice laughed again.
"I don't see what's so damn funny about all of this!" Char shouted angrily.
"Oh, just the part where he said you were here to defeat me... I find that highly unlikely," he said, his evil grin widening. He took a step forward, clenching the black pokeball tightly.
Xia and Sneasel watched him closely, his every movement. If Evice were to strike, they would be ready...
Evice glanced at the pokemon before smirking. "I see you both have improved. Very good. It would be no fun if you didn't put up a little bit of a fight..."
"Don't be so confident. I think it's about time we began this battle," Nascour said sternly.
Evice sighed. "I was enjoying the conversation. Oh well, I guess a battle is inevitable. Very well. Goodbye, you two. It's been fun, but I'm afraid all good things must end."
And with that, Evice threw down the black pokeball.
Char and Nascour's eyes went wide as a large, black mass erupted from the pokeball's flash. It was.. gigantic, so huge and so dark, they couldn't quite make out what it was.
The pokemon screeched loudly, extensions of its massive body expanding into the air.
"W-what is this monstrosity, Evice?"
"Why, my newest acquisition, of course. Don't act so surprised. You've met before," Evice chucked. "But why let me waste time explaining things. Instead, my Ultimate Weapon will explain things itself... show them your power, why don't you... show them your wrath, show them your—Sacred Fire!"
The dark monster rose into the air before Char and Nascour could even process Evice's words. It glowed a powerful red, the sky was darkening.
Char acted first. "Sacred... Sacred Fire? No way... Sneasel, Protect!"
Light stars flooded from Sneasel's claws, surrounding the group.
The pokemon screeched once more.
"Xia! Quickly now, Light Screen, add to our shield!"
A barrier of psychic energy burst forth to join the stars, and not a moment after, a horrible screech filled the air, and a raging inferno spewed from the evil pokemon.
The fire struck the barrier... the energy collided and the two shielding pokemon were sent spiraling backwards, the shields, and the flame attack dissipating. The damage had been done though—both Sneasel and Xia were burned, and neither looked capable of launching another attack, offensive or defensive.
Evice cackled from his place across the colosseum. "I think you understand what I mean now. Meet the Ultimate Shadow Pokemon. The source of our power, the invincible... Shadow Ho-Oh!"
The only reply to this statement was another hideous screeching noise, both the pokemon and their trainers had been struck down with fear.
End Chapter Ten