Hold on Till the End
Bobbing up and down in place, Lugia hovered over the two brothers. It didn't show the intelligence it once had before Leer took control. Basic sounds like grunts and cries from pain came out of its mouth and psychic attacks where shot from its zombie-like mind.
Houndoom intercepted the psychic blasts and dealt back a swift Dark Pulse. It struck Lugia's right shoulder and was strong enough to make the legendary Pokemon visibly flinch.
An orange flashing Pokemon creeping up behind Lugia caught Red's eye. Floating around like a ghost, the new Pokemon struck Red very familiar. It soon dawned on him that it was Ember's Rotom but looked drastically different.
Ember saw this as well long before Red did. "Thunder Palace!" he shouted.
-"Initiating…now!"- Rotom floated behind Lugia, raising its arms up high. It released its Ominous Wind, completely surrounding Lugia. The visible trembles of Lugia's body was the sign that it was working and marked the begging of the counter attack.
"Double the amount of Electro Balls!" Ember shouted towards his Electric Pokemon.
-"Affirmative!"- Rotom buzzed. It formed the Electro Balls and sent them over its target's body. Twenty electric spheres now hovered in the air ready to fire.
Leer glanced back to the Rotom. He muttered something but the racket that live electricity produced left him unheard. Lugia's eyes took on a blue hue, preparing to attack.
"Red, attack him now with Blast Burn," Ember abruptly demanded of Red, not even giving his brother a proper warning.
Red's Charizard moved forward without Red's word to do so. –"Don't start to order me around like I'm your soldier,"- he detested but still gave it his all. Fatigue and sore, Charizard hoped this was the last time for the day that he will have to fight.
A Blast Burn that Charizard channeled through his mouth. He could have done it from any part of his body but the force of habit had him comfortable with his fire jaws. The artificial flames expanded upwards, faltering a bit in speed as Charizard's weariness increased, and made contact with the purple gas.
The fire immediately engulfed Lugia. In an instant, the flames grew to encompass the entire ceiling. Flames scraping the ceiling, Lugia couldn't escape the raging inferno. No intense screams could be heard but Red felt the pain the guardian was enduring.
"Now!" Ember executed the order with a calm demeanor.
Houndoom and Charizard stepped up to the plate. Both of Ember's Pokemon breathed out blue intense flames signifying the Inferno technique both possessed. Standing side by side, the Infernos didn't fused together but went in two separate directions. Charizard aimed for the right while Houndoom to the left.
The two looped around Lugia's bulk to finally meet and successfully encase him with a new prison of fire. Replacing the Blast Burn with actual flames, the temperature in the room skyrocketed. The pit of hell burned on but with little fuel it had, Ember knew he had to act quickly.
Ember's Pokemon acted on their given orders as he hopped onto his Charizard back. They both took off, heading towards the ball of fire.
Red stumbled onto Charizard, hand on his partner's shoulder, and used him as a support. He didn't want to falter before Ember but the heat was causing him to feel light headed.
-"Take it easy,"- Charizard mumbled politely. –"The heat is something that only we fire-type can handle."- He carefully extended his wings intended to shield Red. –And it seems that human can also,- Charizard added mentally, looking up to see Ember circle around the receding fire.
Magmortar stood on top the platform extended over the pool. Red sensed something strange when the Blast Pokemon lifted its right cannon. Collecting his deranged thoughts, Red found out it was Flareon who rested inside Magmortar's right cannon.
Infernape ambled towards where the depleted Rotom hovered. The small ghost flickered like a light bulb ready to bust.
A hollow blast later and Flareon was launched along with Magmortar's fire balls. Not harmed by fire, Flareon absorbed the Fire Blast as she sailed through the air. Like a small comet falling towards Earth, Flareon dazzlingly burned.
I never would have thought of using Magmortar as a cannon for your own Pokemon, Red thought amazed yet a bit perturbed since Flareon's life was at risk.
Vanishing into the swirling fire, Flareon clenched her eyes and lowered her head. The fire drawn to her, Flareon used the fire to fuel her boosted Flare Blitz. Magmortar managed to pinpoint Lugia's chest and Flareon tackled full force with the given momentum.
BOOM!
An explosion of scarlet lights flashed across the place, momentarily blinding Red. He rubbed his eyes thoroughly. He looked back to see Flareon helplessly thrown outwards from the blast but not too far from Lugia. Her falling form alerted Red, making his heart skip a beat and adrenaline pump through his veins.
Ember did have Charizard fall back to retrieve Flareon but a surprise blast of wind sent him backwards into the harsh wall.
"Go catch Flareon!" Red shouted anxiously. He pushed himself off to give Charizard the room to fly to her rescue.
Charizard rapidly flapped his wings, sending shocks of pain through him. He made it a foot above ground before falling back down. –"I can't! My body is not able to handle flying yet!"- he painfully yelled collapsed on the floor.
Red couldn't wait for his Pokemon who has strained his body to the limit. He dropped his bag along with his PokeGear and Pokedex hastily throw aside. The distance to where Flareon was going to land was in the bottomless cave pool. Fire-types were definitely not created to swim in water Red reminded himself. Red scrambled to the edge of the pond, pushing past Magmortar.
-"What are you doing, kid?"- Magmortar defiantly yelled.
Flareon still wasn't in Red's reach as he judged the distance as Flareon fell closer. Got to make the jump! Leaping from the edge, Red extended his arms as Flareon descended onto him. The feelings as if he stuck his hands into a fire pit ignited his nerves when he managed to catch Flareon. Still burning from the Flare Blitz, Flareon irradiated intense heat.
Flareon's eyes grew wide not in fear nor for gratefulness but in shock. She didn't have long to feel apologetic for burning Red as cold, blue water took care of the heat.
Red was relieved of the burns. He opened his eyes to look into the dark abyss he was now falling into. The light was limited after a few meters of drifting through the pool. Salt was Red's new enemy. It stung his unprotected eyes and clogged his nostrils to further irritate. A small gasp from Red allowed water to enter his mouth.
Flareon didn't feel the cruelness of salt water as she quickly lost conscious in the water. Her limp body gave her body rag doll physic, pulling Red down who fought his best to swim up. His body felt the icy cold numb his body reminding Red of his time at the Seafoam Islands. Darkness clouded his sight and numbed his mind.
-"Get him out you fools!"- Charizard frantically shouted, failing to push himself back up. A furious glare was shot at the four Pokemon who idled by the pool.
-"I can't possible swim with my bulk,"- Magmortar casually argued.
-"I would have if I had my Washing machine program,"- Rotom meagerly answered.
-"We are fire types!"- Infernape snapped back angrily. –"We will suffer if we tried to swim too long in sea water since we are not experts at swimming!"-
Houndoom, the quietest of the group, glanced over the edge. He shook his head to signify it was too dangerous.
-"Screw you guys!"- he roared, trying again to get up. –"He risked his life to save Flareon and you can't try to do the same."- His wings flapped to help him get up. Ember's Pokemon awkwardly watched Charizard fail once more.
Houndoom glanced once more into the water, more vigilant this time around. He made a high pitch sound similar to an injured Houndour whimper. He sprung over the pool to send a Fire Spin spiraling downwards.
Flames swirled across the water, creating steam but enough fire was created to replace the disappearing fire. The fire reached five feet deep and created a small whirlpool. Dragged into the middle was a barely conscious boy clutching onto Flareon.
Falling down, Houndoom angled towards the middle. He snapped his jaws, teeth burrowing into the back of Red's shirt. He couldn't help but whimper as cold water struck his sides. Fighting the waves he created, Houndoom dog paddled the best he could out of the water vortex. Dragging a shivering Red, Houndoom fought his battle of the icy rapids.
"Houn-doom?" Red spoke to his savior. He muster his energy to help stay afloat.
-I'm just thankful this is sea water,- Houndoom thanked the salt keeping him afloat for so long.
Houndoom frantically searched for a place to exit the pool but all the edges bordered a foot high stone wall. He swam close to the edge of one where he found Infernape waiting at. He snapped his neck forward, ripping more of Red's shirt, and handed it to the outstretched lanky monkey arms.
-"That was such a ballsy move,"- Infernape grunted, grabbed Red with both hands. –"Something I never expected out of you."- He easily pulled Red over the edge and dropped him onto the ground soaking wet.
-"Hurry-up,"- the weary canine grumbled. He cursed when the ape used his large horns to pull him out of danger. He was carelessly thrown aside close to Red and Flareon.
Charizard hobbled towards his trainer, completely exhausted as he plump down on his rear as to overlook his trainer. A grim look, Charizard tried his best to stay conscious.
High above, Ember watched Red get pulled up along with his Pokemon. His body shook as another short wave of air came his way. Charizard angled to fly out of the small attack. The fire has begun to disappear and smoke floated upwards to them.
"Rotom!" Ember called out his Pokemon's name believing he would have use for him.
Zapping himself back to life, Rotom soared up high. Regrouping with Ember, it buzzed with anticipation.
Ember nodded and pointed towards Lugia. "Let get in close and deal major damage and try to take over Lugia!"
Charizard dropped onto Lugia whose figure began to emerge from the flames with Rotom close by. He charged into the flames, aiming for Leer's position. Smoke billowed from Lugia's back hiding Ember's leader from view but aura could not be clouded by smoke. Ember pointed directly to Leer's position.
Charizard dropped down and was surprised by a blue claw springing out from the smoke. A reptilian claw grabbed Charizard by his long neck and forcefully brought him down.
But how! Ember thought in disbelief.
Feraligatr emerged from the fire to ambush the two but the surprise only allowed them to safely land. Rotom zapped Feraligatr, allowing Charizard to break out the throat grip. Ember hopped off with a soft plop.
A Crobat slashed with its wings in attempts to slice Ember. He anticipated that and had Charizard shoot the annoying bat with a fire ball.
"You skillfully shrouded your Pokemon's aura with Lugia's immense life force," Ember praised his leader who finally revealed himself in the cloud of smoke.
Not moved from his original position, even through the chaos of flames, Leer kept his aura-channeling hand pressed against Lugia. Head tilted backwards to make eerie eye contact, Leer was indifferent to the confrontation.
"Feraligatr and Crobat keep on attacking," Leer commanded, powerful tone unwavering.
-The Feraligatr must have been used to save Leer from the flames but as for the Blast Burn, how did he handle that?- Ember asked himself.
Rotom was targeted first since he held a type advantage against both opposing Pokemon. Spitting water, Feraligatr knocked Rotom back and Crobat followed with a Sludge Bomb to end Rotom. White electricity flowing around Rotom seized and the ghost floated downwards.
"All up to you, Charizard," Ember encouraged, retrieving Rotom.
Charizard wildly Flamethrower both Pokemon, shaking his head to encompass both in his flames. Crobat flew to the side, face clenched in pain as Feraligatr heedlessly charged through the fire to attack with an Aqua Tail.
Ember made his move as the Pokemon were bust fighting. He ran up Lugia's back to reach Leer position.
-"And where the hell your going!"- Feraligatr roared, switching target.
-"I'm right here!"- Charizard reminded his foe with a Dragon Claw over the aquatic reptile's head and brought him down.
Feraligatr struggled to get out but finally accepted the weariness that began to take over his body. –"That kid has left me in worse shape than I thought,"- Feraligatr sourly grumbled.
Ember crossed over in front of Leer, clashing with stares for half of a second before Ember lunged forward. Ember roughly grabbed Leer's shoulder with hand burning with aura. Lugia reared his head back, straightening his back.
Ember's eyes widen as his grip couldn't hold on to the fabric of Leer's sweater and helplessly fell off. The Pokemon fell off by the impulsive move. Charizard glided too catch his trainer as Crobat and Feraligatr were promptly returned back to their Pokeballs.
A single beat of its wing alone from Lugia created winds potent enough to push down Charizard and his trainer downwards. The shiny Charizard caught air before meeting disaster and flew upwards to become level with their enemy.
Leer stood up, hand now placed on Lugia's neck for support. He matched Ember's icy cold stare. "You're making some of these needless ugly emotions of anger emerge," Leer said as a threat. "I can't lose my being and become human once again." Leer paused to clutch his shoulder feeling pain subside in the place Ember managed to touch him.
"This would have been over if I had managed to grabbed on a little longer," Ember proclaimed.
"I'm surprised that you know such technique," Leer admitted, returning to his commanding pose. "But that was your last chance to turn this around. Lugia has finally fully absorbed the power. He is now capable of much more."
Lugia was tainted with burn marks sporadically placed across its pale silver body. Despite this, its body brimmed with newfound strength. It has begun to heal itself and Ember wasn't going to allow that to happen.
"Fusion Flare!"
Charizard fire blasted the recovering Pokemon. Infernape and Magmortar were positioned under Ember's Charizard and released their strongest fire attack. The fire combined to meet Charizard's attack. Intense heat lashed across Lugia's chest and flew back to evade.
"You lost your chance," Leer asserted. "Lugia, Aeroblast!" he verbally ordered, pointing directly at Ember in front of him.
"Kabutops, clobber him with Stone Edge!"
A Pokemon with body structure similar to a Scyther stood in front of Brock. A broad head and rocky texture gave it prehistoric feel to the creature. An arched back forcing the creature to slouch made it look like it had back issues.
Crossing its razor sharp stone scythes, Kabutops fired rocks for bullets at the pink defensive wall known as Slowbro. The rocks jabbed into the water types sides, making it open its mouth as too scream but a tired yawn came out of him. With his last yawn, Slowbro collapsed.
Misty jabbed a finger at Ice's Cloyster shouting, "Thunder Bolt the Cloyster, Starmie!"
"Ice Shard!" Ice ordered.
Cloyster blasted the water type with its weak ice-type projectile. The red core of Starmie vibrantly blinked as if analyzing the situation before spinning like a mad Ferris wheel. Lightning was generated and launched at Cloyster.
Shell opened to a surprised Cloyster. Eyes widened in shock and mouth twisted to the pain it felt. The shellfish Pokemon collapsed shortly after the shock ended.
"Those were not the pearls that I wanted for Christmas, Santa!" Misty sneered.
Ice grumpily returned his Pokemon, not bothering to wittily reply. Exchanging glances with his partner Joey, Ice retrieved Dewgong's Pokeball.
"I must admit, you have improved since the last time," Joey divulged on his praise for the enemy. "I haven't had a good match for quite some time."
"Let's go Joey," Ice urged his comrade to hurry up. "We need to win this so I can go and witness the beginning of Kuriasora's rise to power."
Ice heard the roars of a large beast along with the rest of the battlers. They paused to try and decipher the screeches yet no one could. The roars were silenced but some tremendous battle started which shook the entire mountain, making Ice feel excitement as too how powerful Kuraisora has gotten. He needed to see this Legendary Pokemon for himself.
Ice got his wish as the entire wall behind him was obliterated. The shock sent Ice forwards along with his partner, Joey, who did a more comedic roll across the ground. The Gym Leaders covered themselves against the rubble thrown at them.
Seconds later after the dust cleared, Ice rolled onto his feet to examine the destruction. The path he tried to protect was destroyed without second thought. Ancient walls of precious history reduced to rubble along with their stories. His concern, however, was the Articuno sprawled across the disaster.
"What the hell was that?" Joey popped right back up to survey the damage.
"That's the Articuno!" Misty exclaimed, finally seeing the legendary bird for the first time.
Brock nodded. "But what is that?" Brock pointed at the larger avian Pokemon floating upwards into their view.
Ice lost his composure. He simply gawked at the magnificent being. Awestruck, Ice ambled towards the end of the cliff recently made. He shuffled through rubble with Joey close behind.
"Hey, we are not done!" Misty yelled after them. She chased after with her Starmie following but another shockwave sent her stumbling to the ground, scraping her knees against the sharp rocks.
A Charizard flew right to avoid the vicious Aeroblast following close behind.
"Ember? What is he doing?" Ice wondered out loud seeing Ember try to attack Leer.
"Has he betrayed us?" Joey replied, standing close to the edge.
Ember rounded back to Articuno's room to face Lugia. He glanced back to meet Ice and Joey.
"Was this your plan all along?" Ice yelled at his comrade.
Ember completely ignored them and attacked Lugia once more.
Leer raised his hand to the ceiling. "This is enough," Leer venomously shouted. "Lugia, trap him under the rubble of Navel Rock. Let's give him the same fate he forced his father to suffer!" A hint of hate was unearthed in his comment.
Lugia responded with another Aeroblast directly above Ember. The shredded rocks came down as large as Tauros. The shock managed to shake the entire mountain, allowing for everyone to feel its power.
Red woke to the intense shaking, still hugging Flareon close as he tilted towards the blast. He witness the ceiling break apart and fall down onto Ember and his Charizard but he skillfully avoided. He did witness another person fall though.
At the edge of the cliff, Ice safely fell backwards onto flat ground, but Joey wasn't as lucky. He was close to the edge looking over but the shake sent him forwards to pummel thirty feet. His falling figure was directly above Infernape who saw Joey's demise.
The ape along with Magmortar tried to catch Joey but a pile of boulders came down after Joey to completely engulf the two Pokemon. Ember was the last to go as barrage of debris knocked Charizard on the head and more rocks pelted Ember. The force of a large boulder dragged them down.
Boulders after boulders came down like falling rain. The danger didn't stop there as Lugia turned around as fired another Aeroblast to break up the ceiling above the waterfall. Now one life was n danger as the rubble collapsed onto the moving water source. Harsh wind burrowed into the wall like a drill would through wood and pierced the outside.
Howling air came to still as the mountain began to slowly fall apart. The roaring water hushed as everything tried to become stable. For what felt like an eternity was actually no more than thirty seconds for when Red noticed the area was no longer in war zone.
Water gushed through the thin cracks the rubble had as to complete their journey into the abyss for a pool. Pale light filled the cavern as the opening leaded outside. Lugia's large shadow was cast onto Red's body sprawled across the floor with Charizard ground as well.
Lugia faced the wall he initially took out first and had Leer come to face with his subordinates. Ice looked over the edge with a look of disbelief. Vladimir and Electra stared at Leer with shock and Ember and Drake nowhere to be found.
Leer's blank face was hard as he spoke to the remaining people in the vicinity. "This is what will happen those who oppose me will suffer," he began in a powerful tone. "I will be intolerant to such misbehavior. It will be to either follow me or die!"
He made his Pokemon slave turn around once more to look up to the skylight he created. Large enough for Lugia to fly through.
"If you wish to continue to follow me, then go to the place where Team Rocket has fallen," Leer spoke to his followers. "The place where we all began to fight for justice."
With that said, Leer motioned for Lugia to move forward. Through the opening he escaped to free world. The speed Lugia contained was impressive for its size but not remarkable.
Electra collapsed onto her knees to observe the destruction. "I didn't want for any of this to happen," she weakly said.
Vladimir kept a stone cold face, trying to discern the situation. He kept quiet as he took a long look to survey the disaster. "We have to go," he sternly said. He pulled his girlfriend to her feet and walked over the limp bodies of Blue and Leaf.
Ice clenched the edge of the cliff. Staring down at the mountain of boulders roughly stacked on top of each other. No signs of Joey or life for that matter. He realized the rubble missed Red by a few meters. He go to his feet with a determined look.
"A sacrifice for something greater," he whispered. "You were annoying at times but a great companion. Your death will not be for naught." He left the vicinity with a colder heart.
