Chapter Eleven—The End of the Battle
(mixed feelings about this one... I feel it could have been better.. But then again, it could have been worse... -DM)
-Beneath the Tower Shadow Lab-
It was to dim light and jagged metal that Dakim opened his eyes after falling. Apparently there was a floor beneath the one they were on. A quick look around the area showed Gimubar to be close by. Dakim called out to it. "Gimubar?"
"Go," it replied. The pokemon was uninjured.
This area seemed to be little more than a storage basement for the lab, there were no lights and no obstacles. The only lighting shafted down from the above floor, where Dakim could still hear the sounds of battle. The other Admins were up against Gonzap and that demon of a Scizor. It was three against one, and still, he worried about them.
But these thoughts quickly gave way to another set, one that desperately urged him to find his own enemy. The Dark Troop, Vander was somewhere on this floor as well. And their battle seemed much more pressing.
Not wanting to stall any longer, Dakim called out. "Vander, show yourself!
"Goo!" Gimubar echoed Dakim's request.
"Dakim, I'm right here. Why don't you take a look?"
Another loud roar, the Shadow Slaking appeared out of nowhere, Vander at its side. Dakim didn't waste a second more. "Gimubar, Rollout!"
The Shining Golem quickly formed a ball, and rolled off toward Slaking with force.
"Please," Vander answered, not fazed in the least. "Counter."
Shadow Slaking glowed as Gimubar's rolling attack slammed into it... and Gimubar was sent hurtling away.
Dakim ran to Gimubar's side as Vander advanced toward them.
"Ready to give up?"
"Goooo!" Gimubar rose slowly to its feet.
"Take that as my answer," Dakim snarled. "Your pokemon can't attack this turn, Gimubar—Rock Blast!"
Vander quickly dodged out of the way as the Golem proceeded to throw rock after large rock at Slaking, bombarding it. The Shadow Slaking fell backwards, buried under the weight of the rocks, hopelessly Truant and lazy.
"Snap out of it!" Vander shouted at his pokemon, and it did. Slaking shrugged the rocks off with its powerful arms and awaited orders. "Brick Break," Vander commanded.
Slaking's large fist swung as its legs moved it onward, racing to connect with Gimubar.
"We will match your power—Brick Break as well, Gimubar!"
The Golem's clawed fist surged forward, and it was obvious that the two were going to collide.
"Gimubar will shatter your pokemon's attack!"
"We will see about that..."
-Shadow Lab Floor-
"Zor.." The Scizor stood, motionless between the two Shining Pokemon, only its eyes moving about.
Gonzap laughed. "So this, is your power?" He eyed the fallen Delcatty and distraught Venus across the room. "You're weaker than I thought you were."
Venus shrieked. "How dare you hurt my kitty! How, how dare you?"
"Mrowwmyu..." KitaKita struggled to its feet, growling.
Ein and Miror B sensed that this was a good time to attack, while Gonzap seemed off-guard. Sharing a look, the two attacked together.
"Ranbrage!"
"Ludi-Ludi!"
And at the same time, they shouted, "Hydro Pump!"
Gonzap quickly turned to Scizor, but he didn't get the chance to give his order.
Both Water attacks launched toward the unmoving pokemon.
Miror B was the first to comment. "What, that's it? I thought your pokemon could move."
Ein however, was quiet... as the Water attacks smashed into the Scizor with such force that the entire area flooded quickly.
Gonzap's expression could not be read, his dark eyes masked all emotion... it was impossible to tell if he was worried, or just more confident.
Scizor stood still as before... had the attack done any damage?
Finally, Gonzap spoke. "What a pitiful attack. The damage you did was meaningless. Scizor is unaffected.."
It was true. Shadow Scizor simply shook off the water. Ranbrage and Ludi-Ludi, however, looked to be at the brink of exhaustion. Those attacks had used their full-power.
"There is no way... that, that is impossible!" Ein cried out, staring fearfully at the evil Scizor.
"Yeah... that, didn't just happen!" Miror B echoed Ein's concern.
Venus and her Delcatty, advancing forward, knew that what they had seen was indeed correct. Two of their strongest attacks, were useless. If they were going to stand a chance, they'd need to combine all the strength they possessed. "Come on, guys, are you going to let one failed attack stop you? Let's not stall any longer. It's time for a true combination attack!"
Her determination was exactly what the two men needed—they signaled to their pokemon and got ready for their next move.
Gonzap and Scizor were still. This battle—or really, game, was about to get more interesting.
-The Top Colosseum-
After being identified by Evice, Shadow Ho-Oh's features were so much clearer.
Two dark wings spread across the sky, ushering in what appeared to be a self-created night. Eyes, dark, shaded and glowing. Long talons attached to longer legs attached to a graceful, yet frightening body.
This was Ho-Oh, there was no doubt.
The initial fear of the monster faded away as the two Cipher bosses were filled with questions.
"How, how did you do this, Evice? Ho-Oh, would never, ever serve you!" Nascour said with disbelief. Ho-Oh had been the one to foil his plans before. Why would such a powerful and good pokemon align itself with evil?
"Nascour, you never understood, did you? Pokemon, are just that, pokemon. They don't have minds—they are tools, tools to be used! Their feelings can easily be overwritten with new ones, old alignments tossed aside for new ones. Ho-Oh was my target from the beginning, Nascour, I just chose to keep that information to myself. That helicopter that Ho-Oh destroyed, it wasn't just a helicopter, it had the ability to fire tiny tracking devices... Once Ho-Oh was in range, it was targeted, and from then on, I knew exactly where it was at all times.. it was an easy catch. While it managed to utterly destroy my Tyranitar, after the battle the 'Legendary Pokemon' had no strength left to resist capture... We turned it into a Shadow Pokemon that day. And it has been supplying all of our Improved Shadow Pokemon with energy ever since!"
"Improved Shadow Pokemon?" Char questioned. "What?"
"My boy, that is way too complicated to explain to you now.. and besides, Ho-Oh grows restless. Its burning desire to end your lives is telling it to attack. And by the looks of things... you're defenseless."
Char and Nascour both turned to their pokemon. Xia and Sneasel knew that they were needed, they rose, even with the aching, stinging burns pleading with them not to.
"That will be in vain, bosses of 'Cipher'. Swift attack!" Evice screamed at Shadow Ho-Oh.
The monstrous bird flapped its wings once... what appeared to be many, many energy stars flew from them... it would only be a matter of time before they struck the Colosseum. A screech of twisted joy wrenched itself from Ho-Oh's beak. The fact that such a noble pokemon was delighted by this devastating attack, was troubling.
Xia and Sneasel stared upward... there was no way they could attack now, they had to defend their trainers!
Char sensed Sneasel's uncertainty. "No, Sneasel, don't worry about us! Attack, the Ho-Oh is not defending, attack!"
Xia looked to Nascour for his order. "He's right, Xia—we can't win if we don't attack. Psychic!"
"Shadow Ball!"
As the energy star Swift drew nearer, Psychic's purple energy waves and Shadow Ball's black sphere of destruction were released, heading past the Swift and straight into Shadow Ho-Oh. At the moment of impact, Swift hit its mark as well.
It was like fragments of the sun had fallen down... Char thought, before bracing himself for the worst.
White explosions, everywhere, chaos had erupted as what seemed like thousands of white stars smashed into the Colosseum, exploding on contact, with anything.
"Watch out!" Nascour shouted, shoving Char out of the way as a star threatened to plow into him.
The two fell to the side, but there was no safe spot, the air was flashing all around them, they had lost sight of their pokemon completely.
Char's eyes widened... Nascour was lying next to him, they didn't have enough time to dodge again... and a mass of white stars was heading for them!
"So this is it..." Char whispered...
-Elevator-
The entire Colosseum shook, the elevator shuddered violently as it continued, slowly, to the top.
"Come on, come on..." Yuya commented to herself. The machine was crawling along into the sky, toward the top Colosseum.
During her ride to the top, Yuya had felt several tremors, from above and below... whatever was going on was extreme. The battles were shaking the tower!
"pikachuu.."
"I'm worried too, Pikachu. I know what you're thinking, Ho-Oh isn't evil. You're right, it isn't. However this happened is a mystery to me. But, I do know one thing, and that is that Celebi has the power to completely purify Shadow Pokemon. Once Celebi purifies Ho-Oh, the other Shadow Pokemon will lose their powers. Hopefully, the battles will end then.
"Chu!"
"I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that I want the bad guys to win. Neither Cipher deserves to win this battle. But I'd rather have Char alive than dead. If that means that his organization wins..." here Yuya's voice faded out...
The next few moments were in silence, before Yuya continued.
"Well, remember, Ho-Oh is going to be saved first. Perhaps Ho-Oh can put an end to all of this... Stop both Ciphers.."
"Pikachu?"
"I don't know either. I really don't. But one step at a time, huh? We need to purify Ho-Oh."
"Pika-pika-chu." Pikachu replied, and looked upward. They were near the top.
Yuya hoped that she wouldn't be too late.
-Beneath the Tower Shadow Lab-
"Indeed we will see!" Dakim shouted as Gimubar closed the final gap between the pokemon's fists.
The two battling pokemon met with immense power, for a second it looked like neither one had done anything, and then...
"Raaaaaa!" Slaking pushed forward, and Gimubar dug its claws into the metal floor, attempting to resist the brutal shove.
"Keep pushing, Slaking. Drive that Golem through the floor!"
"Gimubar, push it back! Don't let it control this fight, hang on!"
The Slaking rose up, pushing down with all its power on the Shining Golem. Gimubar was being pushed, inch by inch, into the floor, and the floor was slowly giving way to the tremendous weight.
Dakim saw this. If this continued, Gimubar would be forced through the floor, no doubt to the open sky below. He knew there was nothing below them but air.
Vander smiled. "You're catching on, Dakim. You're about to lose your pokemon and without it, you'll be easy prey for Slaking to finish off... once you're dead, if Gonzap needs my assistance, I'll help finish off your Admin friends. I'm sure your bosses have already been defeated. This battle is over."
Dakim.. closed his eyes. No, it wasn't over. He wouldn't give up, he never gave up. If.. if they were going to die, then they would die fighting. And besides... there was still hope... that girl said, she said...
"No, Vander, this battle is far from over. It will only end, when you are defeated. And, if this is the only way I can defeat you, so be it," Dakim said calmly. His words had.. finality to them, "Gimubar, it is time for your last resort. Let the Shining Light of Cipher fill this tower!"
Gimubar began to glow.
For once, Vander looked slightly worried.
-Shadow Lab Floor-
The Shining Pokemon stood together, in a triangular formation.
Gonzap smiled and chuckled. "This is your power? You are going to defeat me with your battle stance?"
"Zor." Scizor was also amused.
"No, Gonzap, we're going to defeat you with style! Cipher's ultimate combination attack!" Miror B exclaimed, pointing straight ahead. "This attack will be amazing."
"Go ahead and attack then. I'm waiting," Gonzap said hurriedly. He was impatient... but he wanted to see what exactly they were planning.
"Aim directly at Scizor. This needs to be precise."
"KitaKita, I'm counting on you, sweetie!"
"The future of Cipher is at stake! Ludi-Ludi!"
"Ranbrage!"
"KitaKita!"
Each of the three pokemon began to shine brightly.
Gonzap's dark eyes remained unchanged. He didn't fear the attack...
Neither did Scizor.
"Hyper Beam!" the three Admins called out simultaneously.
Three beams shot forth, combining into one. The massive energy beam struck Scizor dead-on...
The flash of the mighty attack was blinding, the Admins shielded their eyes and hoped for the best.
-The Top Colosseum-
The last thing Char had seen before his sudden position change was a blue flash.
He and Nascour were now on the other side of the Colosseum, much closer to Evice, and in the only area the Swift attack hadn't hit.
Nascour immediately called out for Xia, be he could not see her from behind Ho-Oh.
Both Cipher bosses, got to see their attacks land on the Shadow creature however.
Psychic's energy snapped and twisted around Ho-Oh, disorienting it temporarily, and that was just enough time for Shadow Ball to strike it squarely.
The screeching noise was much louder from their new position... the deafening pitch of Ho-Oh's cry streamed through the air.
Char was worried. Sneasel and Xia were in danger... they had left themselves completely open to another attack. He didn't even stop to consider that he and Nascour were in far worse shape.
Evice smiled, and turned around to face them. "I see the Metagross has saved your lives. How nice of it. Too bad though—the fact that you won't be able to thank it... you won't live to see your pokemon again, I think I'll target you with my next attack!"
Char was about to race forward, no doubt to strike at Evice, but Nascour stepped in front of him.
"No, Char. Don't go any closer—Ho-Oh will attack you."
"I don't care... I won't let it end this way! I promised you..."
"And I... promised myself."
Before Char got the chance to ask what that meant, Nascour was yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Xia, rise! If you can hear me, come to my side!"
A 'whirrp' sound, followed by a weak blue flash, and the silver Metagross was standing next to Nascour.
"We're going to stop you, Evice... we're going to end this—any way we can. I won't allow you to harm Char. If that means I die, then that's what will happen! Xia!"
Char's body tingled, a blue flash surrounded him.. "No! Stop!"
In seconds, he was back on the other side, next to Sneasel, who was struggling to stand.
Evice's distant voice rang out. "Fine then, Nascour. If you want to delay his death, do so. Now, Ho-Oh... Let's finish off my old friend with your best. It is only fitting. Sacred Fire!"
"Meteor Mash, Xia! Show Ho-Oh your own terror!"
The sky went absolutely black, as wild flames ripped through it... and a meteor-like charging attack rose to meet the fire.
"Nascour!" Char screamed out, voice feeling raw. "Oh gods... Sneasel, we've got to—"
The attacks met in mid-air, a gigantic explosion followed, fire and energy spewing in all directions.
Char couldn't move... he froze in fear of what had just happened... until he heard the sound.
Nearby, an elevator panel lifted. And Yuya, Time Flute in hand, emerged from the elevator, Pikachu at her feet.
"Char! You've got to get away from here, Ho-Oh will destroy you if you don't get away right now!" Yuya cried, waving the Time Flute. "I'm going to try and purify Ho-Oh! Take this elevator down and get out of here, the tower is really unstable, I don't think it's going to hold much longer!"
Char barely heard her though. He felt he had already been destroyed. If Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire attack was successful... Char had already lost what he was living for.
-Beneath the Tower Shadow Lab-
Gimubar's glow had turned pure white... and hot. Slaking could barely touch the Shining Golem.
"What's wrong with you, Slaking, drive that thing through the floor, now!"
Shadow Slaking, however, was losing interest. After a few more seconds, it began its Truant, and Vander screamed in frustration.
"No, you worthless slob, stop—attack, attack now! We can't let this continue!"
"It's over for you, Vander. You've been defeated," Dakim stated, stepping forward and staring intently at Vander. "This will end the war.. if you will. You lose. And so.. so do I."
"What are you talking about?" Vander asked, knowing too well what he meant.
"Gimubar, Explosion."
The Shining Golem's white body could no longer contain the energy it had generated. Light beams started to seep through its rock skin, slowly, then faster... then even faster.. the energy was going to burst forth.
Vander screamed in fear, rushing to the farthest end of the area but it was a useless move.
With one deafening blast, the area filled with white light, and the temperature raised immensely. The last thing both humans in the room saw was the floor disintegrate away, and the open air beneath their feet.
-Shadow Lab Floor-
When the Admins opened their eyes again, it was to a shocking sight. There was... a hole in the Tower wall on the far side, and Scizor was nowhere to be seen... in fact, Gonzap was gone as well.
The three hyper-glowing pokemon collapsed to the ground, the Admins almost did the same.
"Did... did we defeat them?" Venus asked while tending to KitaKita.
"I have no clue. None. For all I know we could have missed completely."
"Ludi-Ludi, speak to me... Are you alright?"
The Shining Ludicolo was silent for a second, before immediately jumping up and shaking... like something was wrong.
"What's wrong, what's happening now?"
A bright light flooded out of the hole in the ground the earlier attack had caused. It looked like an Explosion attack...
"Dakim's used Explosion, I know it... we're not safe here—once that detonates, that will surely cause this tower to fall!" Ein said, recalling Ranbrage. "Recall the pokemon, in their pokeballs they will suffer less damage."
"Are you saying that there's no way out?" Venus said, suddenly fearful. Recalling her Shining Delcatty, she looked up at Ein with wide eyes. "Can't we get down?"
"There isn't enough time, the attack activated only a moment ago... it doesn't take long for Explosion to well... explode."
"So this is it?" Miror B said as he recalled Ludi-Ludi. "The end of the battle?"
"For us, anyway. We've done well though. And Yuya.. she said she could save the bosses. That's what matters. Cipher will win after all."
"Too bad we won't get to see the new world," Venus sighed.
"True... but we made it possible. And that's the important part, we all contributed."
"Guys... you really, really got on my nerves sometimes—but it was a pleasure working with you," Venus said, fighting tears.
"Same here!"
"Exactly," Ein finished, and at that moment, the light from below reached its peak... a flash of light and heat overtook the area, and the entire room seemed to melt away...
-The Top Colosseum-
"Char, snap out of it already!"
Char barely registered the shaking his body was feeling. Yuya was shaking him violently, pleading with him to move. He only stared at the fire. He stared at the destruction that the attacks had caused.. the billowing smoke.
"Char, did you hear me? I have to purify Ho-Oh. If you're waiting for something, someone, I might be able to save them!
Char finally heard her. "You can save Nascour?"
"I can save everyone, but please, Char—get away from here!"
"I won't leave. I'm staying. But if you are going to save Nascour, do it now!"
Yuya realized that she wasn't going to win this battle. Char would stay no matter what. Because the man he.. loved was in danger. She understood. She would go to any length to save the one she loved too.
With that final thought, Yuya sprung forward toward the smoldering attacks. No one could be seen through the smoke and fire, but she knew, she knew that Ho-Oh was still there.
Bringing the Time Flute up to her mouth, Yuya began to play, the soothing song that would draw Celebi from whatever time it was in to this one...
The playing was quiet, Char could barely hear it, but that didn't matter, it was working.
A green portal opened overhead. And, like a miracle, the sky was bright again. Celebi, had arrived.
"Celebi! Please, you must purify Ho-Oh! Quickly!"
The green, fairy-like pokemon floated down from the green portal, landing right before the cloud of smoke and fire.
At first it was still, but then, a green energy shot out of it, into the mass of destruction.
A horrible screeching noise followed... Celebi's green energy beam intensified. The screeching continued, until it was no longer screeching.. in fact, it sounded more like singing..
At this, Celebi floated back into the green portal, and was gone, its job complete, it returned to another time.
The smoke from the attack cleared, and Yuya's eyes locked with Ho-Oh's as the Time Flute in her hand crumbled.
Char immediately searched for Nascour... and found him. He was lying, face down on the floor, barely breathing. Xia, however, was nowhere to be seen. In fact, Evice was missing too.
Yuya did not look at Char as he ran past her, Sneasel in his arms, on his way to where Nascour lie. Instead, she kept eye-contact with Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh... if you understand me—please."
The tower rumbled. The Explosion's effect was finally being felt at the top. The tower was going to fall, no one would survive...
"Ho-Oh! I saved you, and while I would not ask for anything in return normally, I ask you for one thing—save Char, save his friends! Do not let them perish!"
Ho-Oh cried out sharply. Yuya begged it one more time. "Please, Ho-Oh! Save them! They have done you no harm!"
The top floor started to shake more violently. The tower shaft was under stress...
Char stared down at Nascour as he shook him. "Get up, we're in danger here, get up!"
Nascour did not move however, even if he was breathing.
For the last time, Yuya cried out to Ho-Oh. "Ho-Oh, please!"
Char would not wait for Yuya's cries to be answered. Using all of his remaining strength, he pulled Nascour onto his back, and recalled Sneasel. Readying another pokeball, he threw it down, staggering to the edge of the colosseum floor.
"Fearow... You need to get us out of here!"
The flying pokemon quickly allowed the two on its back, and they flew, unsteadily upward, they had to clear the seats, they had to reach the sky...
"Come on, Fearow, faster!"
Fearow beat its wings as fast as it could, trying to bear them away from the falling tower.
Char looked back for just a second.
He looked back to see the top Colosseum, waver as if hanging in the air... the tower shaft must have snapped... he could barely hear anything.
"Feaaaar!"
Fearow exerted a last burst of power, clearing the Colosseum seats, reaching the open sky... Char and the worn-out Nascour felt the air as they hung in space...
Fearow then promptly fainted... the weight was too much, it had been going too fast.
Char looked down at Nascour... So he couldn't save him, after all.
They spiraled down together with Fearow, the entire world seemed to be fading away as they picked up speed.
Char thought, just for a second, that he'd seen his life flash before his eyes. He smiled. So what they said was true after all.
It was a long drop... a very long drop. Char's body felt light. He didn't think he was going to make it to the bottom.
He had no regrets, and he'd already taken care of his last words. He waited in silence for unconsciousness to slip over him.
But... unless unconsciousness looked like fire.. that wasn't what had happened.
The last thing Char saw was the Realgam Tower falling off to the other side...
End Chapter Eleven