A couple of days later following the Mafia incident…
It was early morning. For once, the Church was peaceful. No angels causing a ruckus, no priest spouting endless tirades; only Chuck making his morning rounds only to find Hikari and Teruo nestled on his favorite spot: the couch. The Kiryu brothers blissfully slept. The critter scowled. How dare they mooch off of his hard-earned cushions?! In a vain attempt at showing dominance, Chuck pulled on Hikari's tail. Tug! Tug! No dice. "Ch-Chuck!" The pooch huffed. He then grabbed an air horn, shaking it vigorously before unleashing a mighty…
HOOOOOONK!
The Pokemon were still sleeping like logs. "Chuck!?" Chuck was astonished. What kind of witchcraft is this?! "Chuuuuck…" He snarled, having no choice but to pull out his trump card. Chuck set his sights on Hikari's tail and opened his jaws.
CHOMP! ZAP!
Hikari jolted, shocking Chuck with a wicked spark. The fried, forlorn creature sighed and stumbled to the kitchen to fix some breakfast. Hikari shook his head and looked back at the mangy mutt. "Eugh. Can't a guy recharge? Nice to know that even the dog is as bitchy as his owners." He grumbled.
"Hm? What was that?" In contrast, Teruo groggily shifted around the cushion. "He's probably mad that we stole his mattress. I wouldn't worry about it, though. He's a resilient pup."
"Mrm… Good point. Say, wanna cook us up some grub? I heard making a ham and cheese omelette is the first step to creating raging infernos... Or at least that's what I heard from Bob Burner's weekly podcast."
"That is true… I love his stuff, but Bob gets the strangest guests on his show sometimes. Remember that one time he had that crazy fishmonger come on? To be fair, they did start off by discussing seafood recipes like Red Snapper Surprise. But then the fishmonger delved into conspiracies like the existence of 'Mewthree'..."
Hikari chuckled. "Oh gods, don't remind me. Then the fishmonger rants about how the government is just repressing the existence of Mewthree to keep Eviolite sales high, and how that means Mewthree is the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. With the crazy kooks Bob hosts, I'm surprised that he was able to open his diner!"
"The world is truly a strange place, isn't it?"
"You know it, bro. That's what makes life so interesting. Every day there's something new going on in Daten City. Now come on, let's fix up some food before we're thrown into another day of hijinks." The Kiryus hopped out of the couch and went to the kitchen. There, they came across Chuck making a sandwich using various ingredients he snatched from the fridge; including the angels' leftovers from the other night. The living plush growled at the brothers. "Hey, hey! We mean no harm. So continue making your sandwich in peace. Though, I'm impressed that you can shove so much stuff between those bread slices."
"Chuck?" Chuck glanced at the brothers while squirting comical amounts of mustard into his meal.
"I'm with Hikari. That sandwich is twice your size, at least! You're a big eater, aren't ya? It's fine, I won't judge you. We all have those kinds of days where the only pick-me-up is a delicious meal." Teruo said.
"Chu-Chuck… Chuck!" Chuck scoffed and snootily walked away, holding his towering plate of calorie-filled goodness.
"Ah don't mind him, Teruo. He's just jealous that he doesn't have this." Hikari twiddled his fingers, creating weak sparks of electricity. "You go start the stove while I grab whatever's left in the fridge. Together we shall rekindle the sparks of breakfast!"
Teruo groaned; albeit a wee amused at Hikari's wordplay. "You got it, chef!" Teruo managed to light up the stove with an ember as Hikari rummaged through the fridge. There he gathered several eggs, sausages, cheese, and slices of whole wheat bread. Then he prepared the ingredients and tossed them onto the skillet to let his little brother take care of the rest. "Spices! I need spices! What's an omlette if it doesn't have some paprika!?"
"Yes chef!" Hikari scampered to the pantry, bringing over chili powder, pepper, and onion in addition to Teruo's request. While Teruo sprinkled the spices, Hikari made toast by using a weak electric current to crisp the bread. Teruo worked his culinary magic as he flipped the omelettes.
SIZZLE! SIZZLE!
"Awright, these eggs are ready to go!" Teruo stated, shifting the omelettes around before setting them on their plates. The brothers took their seats on the kitchen table, Hikari having brought a cup of tea for his sibling while he had his morning cup o' joe; cream and no sugar. "Thanks, man. You know, for a rodeo with our new powers, I'd say we did a pretty good job."
"Thank Arceus we didn't burn the church down. Sure, the counter has spice sprinkled on it but chefs aren't always neat and tidy. As the saying goes: in order to make an omelette ya gotta break a few eggs." Hikari smirked.
Teruo sneered at his brother. "Shut up and eat your breakfast, Hikari." The brothers were chowing down on their meal when suddenly…
Ding-dong!
The Kiryu brothers turned to the elevator. "Now who could that be?" Hikari wondered as the doors made way for a pair of familiar faces... "Volt?! Vulcan!? What brings your friendly mugs here at the crack of dawn?"
Volt smiled. "Well… After your little run-in with the mob the other night, I couldn't help but think of a way to help you hone your skills. Since ya know; you're now an honorary electric-type. I hope you've been adjusting to your new powers over the past few days! Sniff sniff… It smells wonderful here! Glad to know that your cooking is leveling up!"
"Aw, thanks! Yeah, the girls live off of take-out so we have the kitchen all to ourselves. And that means we get plenty of practice! Honestly, it shocks me that their angelic waistlines haven't been obliterated yet…"
"Give it time, my friend." Vulcan said. "This one time, the girls and I met up for a screening of a film I starred in; and before you say anything: No. I didn't perform the Devil's tango with those harlots. It was purley business between celebrities. Anyways, we arrived at the snack bar and lemme tell ya: those ravenous rebels put a Snorlax to shame. I'd say Panty and Stocking have a few more years 'til their metabolism gives out and the avalanche of adipose starts rolling in."
"May I ask, what kinda movie did ya star in?" Teruo asked.
"Oh just your typical street racing flick. To be completely honest, I carried that film because the lead character kept blabbing about the power of family as he used his shitbox to defeat Giratina. I swear, cinema gets worse every year." The gladiator snarked. "But why ramble about movies when I can help Teruo kindle his flames instead? I can hear the fires of Reshiram roaring within you, kid! And I'm here to unleash that blazing beast!"
Teruo's eyes widened. "Y-You mean… I get to be trained by the Vulcan? This has gotta be a dream come true!"
"Ya better believe it! Why'd ya think I brought Vulcan? Together we will turn you into the most ferocious dragons in all of Daten City! And with your new powers, you can finally put a stop to the shadow menace and bring peace back to all!" Volt vowed.
"And I know just the perfect place! The Poke-Gym down by the Volcano Valley shopping district has top-notch facilities for dragon-types! Their electric and fire-type departments ain't too shabby, either. I go there every morning for my workouts. Ya should meet its headmaster; Krateros. He's one of the only 'mons that give me a run for my money! During the 1960 Summer Smackdown, his Clangorous Soulblaze absolutely devastated the competition. The old man's still in his prime when I was lucky enough to clash claws with him a few years back!" Vulcan smirked.
Hikari smirked back. "Sounds like a worthy opponent to me! Once I power up these muscles, I'll face Krateros head-on! C'mon, Teruo! Our training journey starts now!"
"A-Alright! I'm ready to unlock my true power!" Teruo cheered.
"Hold on just one second!" Volt said as he took out his cellphone. "... Hey mom, what's up? … Yeah, I'm at Hikari's place right now. Vulcan and I are gonna train 'em at Volcano Valley, so I might be home late. … Yes, I understand. … Don't worry, I'll pick up some ginger and star anise on the way back. I know you're running low on ingredients. … I love you, too, mom. See ya later." Beep!
"What? Did mommy want you home by 8 or something? I bet she still packs your lunchbox, ya momma's boy!" Vulcan teased.
"Hey, don't underestimate the power of a mother's love! When you're in a tight spot, sometimes family is the only thing that can save your hide." The pikachu retorted.
"Whatever, Dan Diesel. Let's go and pump some iron, already! Hop on my back, I'll give you a lift so we can make it before the morning rush."
And so, Vulcan led the way as the gang soared through the skies. The passengers looked down at the city; even in the morning it was a bustling metropolis with citizens making their morning commutes. Of course, the skies were teeming with flying Pokemon as Vulcan's entourage passed by Fujin; this time hanging out with his buddies.
"Yo Hikari! What brings you to my realm? Don't tell me ya wanna relive the thrill of our scuffle with Latios. I mean, I don't blame ya! Soaring through the sky at blinding speeds gets your heart racin', nothing's more fun than that!" Fujin greeted the gang. Alongside the Pidgeot were a Talonflame, a Fearow, and an Archeops. "Boys, I'd like you to meet the guys who helped me reconquer the sky: Hikari and Teruo!"
"Yo! Look who it is! You didn't tell me the Axews had connections with Vulcan." Fearow commented.
"That's because I didn't know, either! If it were my guess, those are the ones that saved his ass last weekend. Because when I soared into Daten Square the day I got back my groove, the story was plastered on the billboards."
"It takes moxie to step up against a monster like Kyurem, I'll tell ya that much. Hey Hikari, is it true that you're teaming up with the Anarchy sisters?" Archeops asked. "If so, then I salute you for dealing with their slutty escapades. If I were you, I would have bolted like a bat out of Hell!"
"Oh they're not that bad. Sure, their hedonism can get on my nerves but once you get to know them they genuinely care about their jobs as angels." Hikari reassured the flock.
"You do have a point… If those sluts only cared for themselves, then this land would've already been fire and brimstone. That's too hot, even for me!" Talonflame said.
"Anywho… We had an exhilarating time at the casino! It was basically an operation where Kenta tried to use Reshiram and Zekrom to take over Daten City. But with the help of the angels, we infiltrated Kenta's little shindig and toppled his reign! And as thanks, the Tao brothers granted us their powers; I was granted Zekrom's electricity while my brother got Reshiram's inferno. Honestly, it's pretty sweet having the power of God at your fingertips!"
"Wow. One day you're saving Vulcan's tail and the next you're taking on the mob. Frankly, I thought that the Tao Brothers only existed in folktales… You're one interesting kid, ya know that?" Fujin said.
"Wait-So that was you who burned down Hellton Casino!? Not that I'm complaining, of course. Rumor has it that the casino was owned by demons." Fearow wondered.
"Well technically the Tao brothers set the casino ablaze. They weren't too happy being in Kenta's evil clutches." Teruo said.
"That's why I'm taking these guys straight to Volcano Valley; to train their new powers so they can protect Daten city from the forces of evil!" Vulcan stated.
"Volcano Valley, eh? Every other week, I go there to visit my great aunt and one day I saw a Deino walk into the gym. And guess what? When I was about to leave, I swear that same 'mon came out as a Hydreigon. Although, those could've been two separate 'mons… But with Krateros as headmaster, you never know. That guy is the toughest of the tough and works you to the bone! Needless to say, you're in good hands." Talonflame said.
"Heh. Krateros sounds like a worthy opponent. If I can go toe-to-toe with him, then I'll have Akihiro shaking in his edgy boots! I can't wait to get started!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Love the enthusiasm, kid! You're gonna need it where you're going. Anyways, we'll be heading off now. Good luck with your first day of training!" Fujin chirped, leading his flock away from Hikari.
"It was nice meeting you!" Fearow shouted.
"Give it all you got!" Talonflame screeched.
"But don't push yourselves too hard!" Archeops warned. Before Hikari knew it, Fujin and his flock flew into the horizon as the gang soon found themselves nearing Volcano Valley.
"H-Hey! Isn't that the gym?" Volt pointed towards the stone temple that towered over everything else; its apex exquisitely marked with a draconic emblem.
"You're damn right, it is! Don't you just adore its design? Even from here, it radiates the awesome power that dwells within!" Vulcan answered. "Hold onto your butts, 'cause we're coming in hot!" The Charizard dove towards the valley; his passengers holding on for dear life…
At Volcano Valley…
Hikari's gang finally arrived at Krateros' temple of fitness. At first glance, it looked like a typical gym with the main section hosting a wide array of exercise machines and weights for people and Pokemon. Notable gym goers included a Machamp working a row machine while shoulder-pressing with their other arms, a Mightyena running on a treadmill, and a Gardevoir performing pyramid yoga stretches; who attracted pervy onlookers to no-one's surprise. As Hikari's gang wandered the area, they came across a blonde woman bench pressing a massive barbell; with a Garchomp and a Lucario acting as her spotters.
"Come on, Cynthia! If you wanna be the strongest fighter, ya gotta live it!" Garchomp roared.
"Hrngh…! C-Come on! Just… One… More… Rep!" The woman grunted, her arms vibrating with energy as she tried to push further.
"You can do it, champ! After you're done, we'll take a break before doing the 5K practice run!" Lucario steeled while doing bicep curls.
Cynthia clenched her teeth as she braced herself. "Grr… NGAH!" And with one final push, she's finally done it! "Hah… Haaah… 100… At long last…" She gently lowered her barbells onto their rack. "My arms are on fire! But I feel so alive!" She shouted; her body still shaking.
"Ah, glad to see that nothing's changed." Vulcan smiled at the gym goers.
Meanwhile, Teruo was utterly dumbfounded. "How… I just-How did she lift that thing so easily?! I'm glad I'm only training my fire attacks 'cause I thought I was about to faint just by looking at her... Figures that only the most dedicated people are brave enough to venture out to a freaking volcano for their morning workout."
In contrast, Hikari's jaw was practically on the floor. "Woah… That looks so fucking cool! If that's what a human can do, then I wanna be able to lift entire boulders without breaking a sweat! Where do I get started?"
"Well someone's an eager beaver." Volt snarked.
"We gotta find the head honcho first. Since you two are special cases, Krateros can plan a regimen that'll guide you towards becoming masters of your elements. Ya see those fancy entrances over there?" Vulcan pointed towards a pair of stone doors engraved with flames. "Those lead to parts of the gym that only us 'mon can enter. Each of these rooms correspond to a different elemental type. That room specializes in fire-types like me." He explained.
"Really? Damn, this Krateros guy has thought of everything." Hikari said shortly before an elderly Kommo-o exited the fire-type section. But despite its age, the dragon was built like a brick shithouse as it walked across the gym, showing off its battle-scarred scales.
"Oh! And speak of the devil, there he is! Yo, Krateros! I got a couple of newbies that wanna see ya!" Vulcan waved to the hulking headmaster.
"Hm?" Krateros turned around. "Ah. It's only you, Vulcan. Always a pleasure to see you. Wait. Who are your companions? This gym is a sacred temple which emphasizes laborious training that pushes the limits of man and Pokemon. It is no place for peons that seek a quick fix." He sneered at Hikari, Teruo, and Volt. "Although… An incredible power emanates from these Axews. One that only matches the powers of the gods…"
"W-Well, to make a long story short; we took down the mafia and rescued the Tao Brothers. And in return, they've granted us their powers to fight off the evil spirit that threatens to destroy this land!" Hikari explained.
"But alas, we certainly cannot defeat Tetsuya in our current state… That is why we came here. To unlock our full potential!" Teruo added.
"I'm just here to help Hikari with controlling Zekrom's thunder." Volt said.
"And I'm also here to teach Teruo how to unleash Reshiram's fire from within. I hope it isn't too much trouble to have 'em become stronger under your guidance." Vulcan said.
Krateros scratched his chin. "Interesting… Very well, then. Through my temple's trials and tribulations, Hikari and Teruo shall become masters of their elements. And as they carry the powers of the Tao brothers, I wish to spar with them once their training is complete."
"Yes! You won't be disappointed, master Krateros! I'll give it my 110 percent!" Hikari grinned.
"Please, refer to me as simply 'Krateros'. Now, allow me to teach you the importance of reaching your full potential as a Pokemon. In order for a Pokemon to pass onto its next stage of evolution, its body and mind must endure herculean endeavors. Some Pokemon achieve this through the thrill of battle while others by feats of athleticism. Some Pokemon require an addition of a specific item such as an elemental stone. And some through a strong bond. Then there are those who use personal reasons to justify not evolving; despite possessing the power to do so. Of course, certain Pokemon require more training than others; as we dragons have the most arduous path of them all. Hence why it is crucial for you to take your training with the utmost severity; considering your unique situation."
"Thank you, Krateros. We accept the intense training that awaits us, and we shall not give up no matter how grueling!" Teruo said.
"One final thing I must mention: Never ever consume Rare Candies in a pathetic attempt to circumvent your training. Rare Candies are the devil's concoction! In all my years, I've been unfortunate enough to witness pupils stumble into a never-ending pit of despair and addiction; their bodies withered and decayed, their souls hollowed and shattered. Rare Candies will lead to your demise! So, for the love of Arceus, you must vow to never partake in such debauchery." Krateros insisted.
"I-I definitely promise! I'm not much of a sweets person, anyways!" Teruo promised.
"Cross my heart, I'll put in genuine, hard work into my regimen!" Hikari vowed.
"Excellent. Head to the elemental halls to begin your journey. Vulcan; take care of Teruo while the Pikachu assists Hikari. But be warned, electric rodent: Today is the only time I am allowing you to use the gym's facilities. Memberships are necessary to maintain the integrity of this temple; isn't that right, Vulcan?"
"I mean the monthly fee isn't that expensive. It's actually a hell of a deal considering how much stuff you can do around here." Vulcan said.
"Tch. That's fine, I guess… But how come Hikari and Teruo get off scot-free? Aren't they gym newbies, too?" Volt asked.
"The brothers are on a pilgrimage of power. Their intense training transcends modern currency… As long as they don't stray from the path of righteousness." Krateros said.
"Friggin' loopholes…" Volt muttered. "I'll give Hikari a head start before the sun sets. C'mon, dude. I'll teach ya how to do the electric boogaloo!" The Pikachu led Hikari towards the electric-type hall; distinguished by its electrically-charged stone doors.
"Damn. My scales are already tingly!" Hikari said.
"Ya think that's weird, then wait 'til you start using that crest as a lightning rod!" Volt and Hikari soon entered the ionized workout area. As they walked along the chargestone floor, various Pokemon honed their electrical abilities using specialized gizmos that ranged from simple lightning rods to automatons that required skill and precision to conquer.
"Damn, Vulcan wasn't kidding around… How come my gym doesn't have cool robots?! All Daten City's got is flimsy rods and a couple of cheap treadmills! Oh! And speaking of cardio… Here's something to get your charge going!" Volt pointed at the cardio section, its treadmills and cycling machines sending excess electricity to a nearby generator.
"Woah. Krateros sleeps like a baby knowing that his energy bill is taken care of. Talk about being energy-efficient!" Hikari commented.
"That's just one of the many reasons why us electric 'mon are the coolest. Phone low on battery? Just recharge it with your fingertips! Power outage? Just glow like a firefly! Humans can't even comprehend how awesome it is to be your own battery." Volt said as they approached a treadmill. "Okay, here we are, Hikari. Show me whatcha got!"
"Alright, let's get this party started!" Hikari hopped onto the treadmill. Upon closer inspection, the machine lacked a 'START' button. "Uh… How do you turn this thing on?" He stepped on the track several times, causing it to slightly shift forward. Hikari put two-and-two together. "Oh! Hold on, I got the gist of this!" The Axew activated the machine by walking along its track; promptly turning into a jog. He could already feel the charge building up in his scales. His heart began to race. His muscles were being sent into overdrive. "Oh hell yeah! I feel energized! Better prepare yourself, evildoers! 'Cause I'm about to shock your world!"
Volt smirked at his enthusiastic companion. "See? What'd I tell ya? When you build up a charge, you feel like you can take on the world! Keep at it, dude!" He cheered.
"Will do! Say, how much longer 'til I get to smash stuff? I feel like a dynamo ready to unleash a thunderstorm!" Hikari shouted. Electricity surged through the Axew's body, sparks flying from his glowing scales.
"Heh. I'd say you're ready to take your powers for a spin. We're off to the target range! … Just be sure to wipe down the treadmill before you go. We don't want anyone slippin' on your sweat." Volt said.
"But of course! Let me just slow down for a tad…" Hikari leapt out of the treadmill and…
CRACKLE! ZAP!
Hikari's crest unleashed a wicked lightning bolt. "Woah! I can do that!? Hold on lemme try something…" Hikari concentrated, managing to fire electricity from his fingers. "Haha! I got the power of Zeus, baby!" He exclaimed as he fired in all directions; a spark landing on Volt.
Bzzzt!
"Hey… Careful with that! You could shoot someone's eye out…" Volt winced, rubbing his shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you where you can zap to the extreme all you want!"
"Awright! Lead the way, my friend!" Hikari said, finishing up his cleaning. And so, the two made their way through the cardio section and into the target range. The range was vast as it was littered with a wide array of dummies and targets.
"Go ahead. Unleash your thunder upon those poor saps!" Volt pointed towards the dummies.
"You got it!" Hikari's body teemed with electricity as he fired at the targets, making direct hits. "Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Hyah!" He exclaimed, eliminating another one. With each destroyed target, he could feel the energy overcome his senses. For every hit came another adrenaline shot. For every movement came a speed boost. He jumped over and around targets, letting loose on his lightning. He ran circles around dummies right before eviscerating them with electrified claws. He shot across the entire hall, leaving a trail of sparks. Never in his life has Hikari felt so alive.
"That's the spirit, Hikari! Let the thunder flow through you!" Volt clapped his hands in hopes of amping Hikari even further.
"HERE… I… GOOOO!" Hikari launched towards a giant dummy; crashing into it with the force of a dynamo.
BOOOM! ZAP! CRACKLE!
Hikari's target was obliterated. He remained laying on the floor, his body exhausted from the electrical overflow. "Hah… Haa… Whoo! Hoo yeah… Now that's what I call a workout!" He exclaimed, raising his fists to the ceiling.
Volt walked over to Hikari with a big grin. "I'll say! You gave us gym goers a realshock! I'm proud of ya, dude! Ya need a minute to recharge before moving onto bench presses?"
"Yeah, man… But that was awesome! I felt like I could take on the world!" The two were then approached by a Manectric, who was curious about Hikari's incredible power output.
"Well I'll be damned… It's not often that you see an Axew in the Electric Hall. I thought they can't make lightning. Was his father a Heliolisk or something?" The Manectric asked.
"Oh, you mean Hikari? He's been blessed by Zekrom itself. He's no ordinary 'mon!" Volt explained. "In fact, he and his brother are going to be the ones who are gonna free Daten City from the wrath of ghosts!"
"Is that so? By the looks of it, he's putting his new powers to good use. I could barely tell who it was with him zipping about the place. Just tell 'em that electric attacks are more than just 'building up a charge and zapping the opponent'. Ya gotta use that energy to buff yourself up so you can really bring down the thunder!"
"Ya hear that, Hikari? Your body is a motor, so don't be afraid to give it a little jumpstart!"
"Heard ya loud and clear! Though, I wonder how my lil' bro is doing… Surely he's making firestorms with Vulcan…" Hikari wondered.
"I could only imagine what gauntlet Teruo is going through… That Charizard sure loves his near-death experiences."
FWOOSH!
The pile of wood was engulfed in flames; bark splitting from intense heat. Vulcan looked back at Teruo, who was in awe at the pyre. "Do you see now, Teruo? Your flames have to come from deep within ya. Just concentrate; picture your goals and light your soul ablaze!" Vulcan said, clenching his fist.
Teruo felt the fire's ambition; as if a warrior condensed his victories and aspirations into a flame that pierced one's soul. With fierce flames reflected in his eyes, Teruo looked back at Vulcan. "W-Wow… I can feel my embers getting stronger just by looking at it! Alright, here I go!" Teruo turned to the pile of sticks before him. He took a deep breath and exhaled a few embers; igniting only a small branch.
CRACKLE! SPUTTER!
"H-Hah! I did it! Ya see that, Vulcan?" Teruo cheerfully pointed at his little campfire.
"Hrm… I dunno…" Vulcan scratched his chin, sneering at the flames. "It feels like it's missing something… It's lacking soul, you know? A fire from the heart has the desire to incinerate everything in its wake. Ya managed to burn the wood, but the flame's just sitting there like a schoolkid refusing to get outta bed! If you were truly passionate about defeating Tetsuya, ya gotta let 'em have a taste of your burning spirit!"
"T-That's the problem…" Teruo stammered. "I don't think I can defeat Tetsuya on my own… Even with Reshiram's powers and Hikari by my side, there's a chance that we'll be torn to shreds and become Tetsuya's shadow soldiers! It's been a hell of a week and I'm grateful that we met you and the angels… But we're dealing with a monster who has the power to corrupt entire cities and turn even gods into his mindless drones! Just look at what he did to Latias and Latios…" The anxious Axew hung his head low, holding back tears.
"Oh, kid…" Vulcan sighed, shaking his head at the poor 'mon. "Ya know, if it makes ya feel better, I wasn't always the mighty warrior that I am today. I started out as a 'mon who took shit from everyone else at the playground. I was that kid who couldn't even hang on the monkey bars. My flames weren't too good, either. Even a breeze could put me in a coma." He demonstrated his fire-tipped tail. "They used to call me 'Cinder breath' 'cause every time I tried to breathe fire, I ended up coughing up smoke!"
Teruo sniffled. "R-Really? I always thought that you were among the cool kids growing up…"
"Oh, there's more to folks than meets the eye, my dear boy."
"So tell me, how did you become such a powerful warrior? Did you enroll in some sort of dojo? Flame-rekindling therapy, perhaps?"
"You want to know a little secret, kid?" Vulcan closed in. "At first, I didn't know what to do about my smoke. I took my lumps until one day my soul decided it had enough and pushed me to train like no tomorrow! Early on, I could only sputter embers and bench press branches. My body was crying for mercy, but my spirit raged on. Each candle lit was a step forward. A smashed rock was another barrier broken. Next thing I knew, I won my first match at the Daten City Poke-Rally! There was no turning back, now. My burning soul brought victory after victory. What was once flickering embers became billowing blazes that incinerated anything in their path. Those monkey bars? Bitch, now I can do a thousand pull-ups without breaking a sweat!"
"Wow… Must've taken a lotta courage, huh?"
"You know it, boy. Believe it or not, you can be as; if not more powerful than me if you put your mind to it. You have the power of freaking Reshiram by your side, for Arceus' sake! You're right that Tetsuya is more powerful than anyone could imagine. But you and Hikari have been given the potential to go toe-to-toe with that asshole and save Daten City! All ya gotta do is put in the effort and apply yourselves!"
"And if another dark lord comes by… I'll be able to fend them off and protect my loved ones! And I'll make Hikari proud! Yeah!" Teruo perked up, confidence re-kindled.
"Now you're getting it! Let your soul guide you to the heavens!" Vulcan shouted, pointing at the pile of wood.
"You got it!" Teruo took a deep breath…
FWOOM!
Teruo shot a concentrated burst of fire, igniting his target. His campfire became a roaring bonfire, emitting a harsh, red glow as it reduced the branches to cinders. "Ah-ha! Take that, wood! I hope you like the taste of my spicy curry!"
"Now that's more like it, little man!" Vulcan smirked. "Before you know it, you'll be a raging fireball!"
"And it's all thanks to you, Vulcan. I now know that even the greatest warriors had to start from somewhere."
"That's right! And if I can make it, then so can you!" Vulcan gave Teruo a thumbs-up, right before the ground suddenly shook beneath them.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The tremors intensified. Vulcan and Teruo looked up at the behemoth approaching them, realizing that the beast before them was an Aggron carrying firewood. "Yo, Vulcan! Fancy seeing you here. Who's the tyke?" The Aggron said, referring to the miniscule Axew.
"Oh, he's no ordinary Axew! He's one of the 'mons that saved my skin back at the colosseum. Now I'm training him to follow in my footsteps, and lemme tell ya; this kid's a natural!" Vulcan explained. "Though, I could say the same thing about you. Not often that I see steel-types hanging out in a spicy sauna like this."
"It's all thanks to my rock-hard skin, I can shrug off magma like it's nothin'!" The Aggron boasted, pounding his armored chest. "But in all seriousness, I just got a new gig at the city's environmental department. I've always had a knack for landscaping, so they offered me a position to assist in controlled burns around the forest. Being the ambitious 'mon that I am, of course I said 'yes' and now I'm a pyromancer in-training!"
"That's amazing!" Teruo exclaimed. "It's funny how we're both on the same boat despite… Ya know."
"Our sizes? Bahaha! Even when you're a big lug like me, there's still lots of things you have yet to master. Heck, you're already more skilled than me! The most I can ignite is a twig."
"Oh wow. Really?"
"Ya better believe it. But if I keep pushing myself to do better, one day I'll even be able to aid in forest fire rescues. Same thing applies to whatever you're aiming for, kid. Don't ever give up 'cause some day you'll burn as bright as the morning star."
"Gee, thanks! Good luck with your new job, I'm sure you'll do great!"
The Aggron smiled, having been touched by the youngin's words of encouragement. "I'll certainly try. Welp, I'll be seeing you around, Vulcan! This wood's ain't gonna burn itself!"
"Alright, see ya! Don't be afraid to ask me for advice; I'll be sure to light your soul ablaze, too!" Vulcan offered as the Aggron stomped past them.
"Guess I'm not the only one with a burning desire to get stronger, huh?" Teruo wondered.
"Certainly not! I've seen my fair share of 'unconventional' fire-starters. This one time I came across a Machop; a fucking Machop who can already use Flamethrower! So don't worry, man. Someday you too shall be as mighty as that Machop… So wanna take a breather in the sauna? Their heat rocks are well-known for soothing your inner flame."
"I mean, thanks. I could use something to settle my nerves." Teruo nodded, following the Charizard as they were about to unwind after the rising hero's red-hot first lesson. Neither brother knew what elemental trials awaited them...
Later that evening…
Hikari and the gang stepped out of the temple and back into the outside world. After an entire day of intense training, the Kiryu brothers were bone-tired and had to be carried over Vulcan's shoulders. The blistering volcanic heat was replaced with a cool breeze, so it offered refreshment to the exhausted brothers.
"I can't feel my fucking legs… Who knew supercharging your muscles could take a lot outta ya?" Hikari groaned.
"You think that's bad? My entire body feels like an oven! Seriously, you can fry an egg on my back!" Teruo said, pointing at his skin; having a faint glow from residual heat.
"Add a few steaks and ya got yourself a deal! These dogs are barking for a protein boost!" Hikari flexed his arm, though gently so as to not agitate his aching muscles.
Volt chuckled, walking alongside Vulcan. "Ah, I remember my first day at the gym. My Pops straight up told me: 'Son, if you can't bench press a car by the end of the day, you're not a real mechanic.' So I went apeshit on the machines! I'm talkin' about 8-pounds of resistance for every machine; which for a lil' guy like me was like trying to lift a boulder. And I absolutely killed it on the treadmills! I ran so fuckin' fast that my charge caused a temporary blackout for the whole block! The gym owner was pissed but the other gym goers were like 'Duuuude, this yellow rat's got mad skills!'. 'Cause ya know, this was a gym mainly for people, there wasn't much incentive for Pokemon to train their elemental magic at a boring place like this. So anyway, that was when I fell in love with training my body and to this very day I'd love to thank my dad for sending me on such a pilgrimage."
Vulcan gave Volt a surprised look. "Daaaaamn. I gotta hand it to ya, it's heartwarming that you put in all that effort just to impress your old man. My first day was more on the lines of 'punching the strongest-looking guy and starting a gym-wide brawl'. There's never a dull moment when you live a gladiator's life!"
"Must be fun being a celebrity, then. You get to fight all these fearsome foes that push your body and mind to their limits! And you're rewarded with awesome powers that make even the gods tremble! I can't wait 'til my next workout session!" Hikari said.
"Heh. Luckily for us 'mons, we're better at getting stronger than humans! We have a faster recovery rate and are pros at building muscle. How else do you think I got this hunky bod?" Vulcan gloated, presenting his well-built muscles.
"Fuckin' sweet! But waitaminute. How are we supposed to get here if we're all the way at the church? You don't suppose we hike our asses here every morning, do you? It'd be sunset by the time we got there!"
"Fret not, my friend! I can simply take you guys with me on my daily workouts. I mean, the old man's given ya free membership for the time being, so might as well make use of every moment!"
Teruo beamed. "That sounds reasonable. While you're at it, mind tutoring me for just a while longer? Just until I feel confident in my fire attacks, that's all."
"But of course, dude! And what about you, Hikari? Feel like you can channel the power of Zekrom all by yourself?"
"Hell yeah, dude! With some resistance training, my electric attacks will devastate my foes! Just you wait, Volt! Next time you see me, I'm gonna be the next Hulk Hogan! … Or should I say Hulk Hikari." Hikari joked.
"We'll see about that, muscle man. Good luck on your training, ya gonna need it." Volt said.
"Oh I'm sure they'll do miraculously! Enthusiasm is the key to doing your best." Vulcan said before crouching. "Hop on, Volt. It's gonna be a smooth ride home."
Volt leapt onto Vulcan's back, he and the Kiryu brothers bracing themselves as Vulcan launched into the night sky…
A few weeks later…
Another night, another vengeful spirit to quell as the Anarchy sisters and their hunting partners cruised through the metropolis.
"So Stocking, tell me again why the fuck is Garter sending us to some bumfuck hospital? I could be guzzling barrels of cherryboy jam right now instead of wasting gas on a lousy ghost!" Panty whined.
"How the fuck do you think I feel?! I'm supposed to be in line for Gustav's cookies n' cream pudding! It's only available for one night and it just had to be tonight, didn't it!? By the time we get back it's gonna be all gone and I'm going to bash that cockmongler's face with a leftover jar!" Stocking protested and slammed the steering wheel. She then took a deep breath. "Apparently paranormal shit's about to go down and we gotta exorcize the joint before poltergeists come and all Hell breaks loose."
"Ladies, ladies. With our new superpowers, we should be able to mop the floor with 'em!" Hikari reassured the girls while inspecting his bicep.
"That's right! These past several weeks have been exhausting, but at least we're in control of our powers now!" Teruo added.
Panty looked behind her seat, noticing the boys' athletic figures. "Oh damn. You guys hit the gym harder than I hit the sauce!Hikari lookin' like Mr. Universe over here!"
Hikari smirked, flexing his newly-developed pecs. "Heh. Why thank you! I know that it ain't much yet, but just you wait 'til Zekrom's powers really kick in and I start using See-Through for my reps!"
"Make a dent in our car and I will run you over." Stocking hissed.
In contrast, Teruo's body was much leaner. While his muscles were toned, they were sleek and subtle compared to Hikari's bulk. "I'm surprised it took you so long to notice, Panty! Were you too busy being knee-deep in hot, sweaty guys?" He snarked.
"Hey, an angel's gotta do what an angel's gotta do when she's got an uptight priest hounding her ass 24/7! Before I go back to Heaven, I wanna bone a million hotties! I ain't got time to be thinking about you gym rats!" Panty retorted.
"Oh wow. How's that working out for ya, honey?" Hikari sarcastically remarked.
"Just about halfway through thanks to all the surprise orgies lately! Seriously, a lotta ghosts have been popping up around West Hollywood and that means everyone gets to shoot their load right after I shoot up spirits! It's a motherfuckin' deal if ya ask me!"
"Makes me wonder if ya ever had sex while fighting a ghost…" Teruo wondered.
"Are ya fuckin' kidding?! That's just an average Tuesday! Just the other day I met this biker dude and we-"
SCREECH!
Stocking spotted the haunted hospital and hit the brakes. The sudden halt sent Hikari and Teruo flying out of the hummer and slamming into the walls. The hospital was located in the suburbs, easily dwarfed by the city's sky-piercing medical meccas as it was only two stories tall.
"Oow… Try slowing down before arriving at our destination… Ya almost chipped these bad boys!" Hikari groaned, rubbing his tusks. "I've been trying to electrify them for battle and I don't want 'em to get chipped…"
"Calm down, man. Urgh… You know that our tusks grow back eventually. Besides, the purpose of practicing is to mess up so that you'll learn from your mistakes and improve." Teruo said.
"Well some people just don't want to make too many mistakes on their first try… But enough wasting time with philosophy, we got a ghost to destroy!"
The angels exited their vehicle, having their holy weapons locked and loaded. "I know it's a tall order for a cumbrain like you, but can you just try not to fuck the patients this time. I don't want another restraining order!" Stocking warned.
"Don't get your stockings in a knot, bitch. Ain't my fault his cock wasn't working until I came over and pitched his tent! If anything, he should be fucking grateful I got down on his sorry ass! Now let's bust some ghosts!" Panty said, leading the others into the building.
Even at this hour, the lobby was littered with people. "Are those angels?! Guess they're here to guide lost souls back to Heaven." Wondered a nurse.
"But why would they need weapons unless… gulp! Oh dear… We better lock the infirmaries!" The doctor commanded as they watched the angels walk through the hallways.
Hikari and Teruo peeked into an infirmary. "Say, what kinda spirit do you think we're dealing with here? A burn victim? A patient whose body's been mangled in an accident? Or maybe something crazy like getting electrocuted while unicycling on a skyscraper?" Hikari asked.
"Someone's been watching too many online videos. Surely no one's that starved for attention to pull a stunt like that, right?" Teruo said.
Panty snickered. "Oh you sweet, summer child… I had drinking contests where a buncha frat dudes and I buttchugged each other while going 120 on the highway!"
"God, is there anything pure that comes out of that cesspit mouth of yours? This is a hospital, for Arceus' sake!"
"Only the long-winded speeches before I blow ghosts to a million fuckin' pieces. Ya know how it is with angels; we gotta act all hoity-toity to keep up Heaven's brand. But hey, at least I get to spread my legs and chillax."
"And having a buttload of dosh to spend is a sweet bonus." Stocking added. "I wonder what the bounty on tonight's sucker is. Better be enough to get that gilded tea set after someone used them as target practice." She snarled, glaring at Panty.
"What else was I supposed to do? They were lying around! If you value your shit so much, then put them in a spot where I can't fuckin' shoot 'em!"
"I would if you stopped practicing inside the church, Rambimbo! Hell, you never apologized to Honekoneko after pumping him full of lead! Do you have any self-restraint in that sex-addled head!?"
"I gave him a good stitching, didn't I?"
"You stitched his arm to his ass! What kinda seamstress are you!?"
"A bad bitch who has better things to do than worry about some fuckin' doll-"
SLAM!
A door opened; striking Panty and knocking her to the floor. Her assailant? A Misdreavus donning a bob cut. "Oh shoot! I'm so sorry about that! I swear I didn't catch y'all coming!" The spirit begged.
The angel shook her head. "FUCK! Next time give a fair warning before you- Waitaminute, you must be our target! For a vengeful spirit you sure don't look like much."
"W-What? Miss, I'm just the nurses' assistant. I talk with patient's souls so I can help doctors come up with their perfect cure!"
"Uh-huh! For a ghost, you sure suck at seeing through walls! But now that we finally found you, time to repent, motherfucker!" Panty pointed her gun at the ghost, about to pull the trigger when…
"WAIT! Don't shoot!" Hikari tackled Panty.
"What's the big fuckin' idea!? Don't tell me you're siding with those red-skinned snobs. If so, I won't hesitate to blow your brains out!"
"Listen to me! This is just an innocent civilian! There are ghost Pokemon who want to live their lives like the rest of us! Think Gengar, Mimikyu, Sableye… Do any of those ring a bell?"
"... Can't say I give a shit. Every ghost looks the same to me."
"I never heard of 'em, either." Stocking shrugged. "Before we met you guys, all I knew is that Pokemon were creatures with magic powers who loved to fight. Which I mean, it's kinda true, right?"
"I mean yeah… But like people, Pokemon come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I'm shocked that despite being Daten City's guardian angels, you two are incredibly ignorant of a huge chunk of its population. " Teruo said.
"We're God's messengers! Does it look like we got time for Pokeraps?!"
"All I'm saying is that you should at least be more considerate of Daten City's citizens if you want to serve your duty. Allow me to give you a rule of thumb: If it doesn't have black swirls around it nor does it seek destruction; then don't blast it." Teruo looked at the Misdreavus. "I'm so sorry about that, ma'am."
Misdreavus giggled. "Oh don't worry about it, hun! These angels don't seem to be the brightest bulbs. But they're right about one thing: there are Poke-ghosts slithering around... They might be hiding in plain sight for all we know! Ya gotta get rid of 'em before they eat the souls of our patients!"
CRASH! THUD!
A crash was heard within the halls, and just like that Misdreavus' necklace began glowing. "Oh no… I sense chaos intensifying! The demons are about to unveil themselves! You must hurry!"
"Where are they!?" Asked Hikari.
"Just go straight and take the first right!"
"Then what are we fuckin' waiting for? Let's go fuck their shit up!" Exclaimed Panty as she bolted down the halls.
"Hey, wait for me! Don't hog all the glory, slut!" Stocking chased Panty.
"Don't worry, we'll crush these ghosts before they know what hit 'em! Let's go, Teruo!" Hikari commanded, building up electricity as the brothers followed suit.
"... That's peculiar. The brothers are afflicted with The Curse, yet I sense justice within them…" Misdreavus thought to herself.
Hikari and the angels arrived on the scene, finding a Dark Seviper and a Dark Arbok having a spat. "Hey, watch it, bub!" Hissed the Seviper.
"No, you watch where you're going, asshole! I'm just trying to get my scale ointment down the hall!" Snarled the Arbok, referring to the vial on his neck.
"Oh I'm sorry! Your body got tired from shedding too much? Maybe you wouldn't have this problem if you used your hood for actual combat instead of showing it off to worthless bitches!"
"What did you just say, punk!?"
"I'm saying that your hood pattern is meant to intimidate your foes, not a booty call!"
"And what would you know about hood patterns? All you got is those pointed fangs and that gaudy tail blade! You can poke someone's eye out with that thing!"
"Oh!? Do you want to be the first!? Not even a 'mon like you stands a chance against my toxins!" Seviper pointed his sword at Arbok.
"Bring it on! This ol' bod still has a few good sheds left!" Arbok flared its hood.
"En garde!" Seviper sprung into action and struck the Arbok with its fangs, causing them to crash into nearby medical equipment. The Arbok coiled itself around Seviper and used his own fangs to spray a vile acid; splash damage affecting horrified onlookers.
Stocking stepped back after a drop landed by her feet. "Hey! These are expensive, y'know!"
As the feud raged on, their bodies became demonic; overcome by the darkness in their hearts. Spectral swirls materialized as the powers of Hell turned these snakes into Poke-Ghosts!
"Looks like we got ourselves a pair of one-eyed snakes!" Panty said, cocking her pistol.
"I dice up the cobra while you vaporize that viper, got it? Let's get this shit over with, I got myself a date with some pudding!" Stocking replied, unveiling her second sword.
The ghosts stopped their fighting and turned to the angels. "Ohoho! You must be the skanks from Heaven, right? What are the odds! Did Garter send you to fix his genital warts again?!" Seviper mocked.
"Or was he finally sick of your shit and kicked you moochers out? Forcing you to scrounge local hospitals for souls to steal! I gotta admit, that's pretty low, even for you degenerates!" Arbok hissed.
"Shut your trap and say your fuckin' prayers, snake breath!" Panty growled, pointing her gun at Seviper.
"Oooh! Snake breath? Must've been up all night to come up with that one!" Seviper snided, playfully swinging its tail.
"Say, how about we settle our differences and get rid of these angels? We'll be doing Heaven a service by cleaning up its trash!" Arbok suggested.
"You have a fair point… It'll be a cinch! Their human bodies make them easy prey!"
Hikari and Teruo stepped in. "Hey! If you wanna kill them, you're gonna have to go through us first!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Bahahaha! And what are you going to do? You're just an Axew!"
"W-We're more powerful than you can ever imagine! We'll use the power of the Tao Brothers to strike you down!" Teruo vowed.
"Didja hear that? Apparently these pipsqueaks have the blessing of the gods! Ahahahaha!"
"Ohohoho! Now that's comedy gold! Just for that, we'll devour you last!" Arbok goaded.
The girls pushed the brothers aside. "Step aside, boys. Let the professionals take care of this." Stocking insisted. "Let's rock and roll, bitch!"
"Right back atcha, slut!" Panty nodded. The sisters charged at the serpentine ghosts…
SLICE! DICE! CHOP!
Their holy weapons disintegrated in their palms, the pieces lay scattered on the ceramic floor. "WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT!?" Panty barked, frantically looking at her pulverized undergarments.
"You assholes! What did you do with our weapons!?" Stocking yelled, desperately scrounging up the remnants of her sword.
"Simple! I chopped up your toys into a million tiny pieces!" Seviper snickered, looking at his ghostly blade. "And to think I've been hiding such incredible power all this time… I must be dreaming! With my sword, I can do whatever the hell I want!"
"Maybe being a ghost ain't so bad after all! Shame it took so little to declaw these feral cats. Oh well, it's dinner time!" Arbok coiled its body, preparing to strike the disarmed angels. ZAP! He was suddenly struck with electricity. "Gaah!What was that?!" It swiveled around until it found the culprit: Hikari. "So you want to play the hero, huh? You got a lotta nerve messing with a 'mon with the stone-cold look that puts Medusa to shame!"
Hikari scoffed. "Play the hero? I am the hero! For we are the glimmer of hope that burns brighter than the raging sun! We're the lightning bolt that'll smite the wicked! Teruo and I are gonna take you motherfuckers down and free the city from Tetsuya's claws!"
"That's right! For there's one thing I know for certain: It's that the likes of you can only be defeated by another 'mon!" Teruo affirmed.
"I dunno who this 'Tetsuya' guy is, but if he's the one who blessed us then I hope you fail!" Seviper flicked its forked tongue. "So what are you waiting for?! Give it your best shot!" He dared.
"Or better yet…" Arbok smirked, coiling its body once again. "You're going to have to keep up if you want a chance at beating us!" The ghost cobra lunged over the angels, Seviper following suit.
"Damn it! But I do love a good challenge… Let's go, Teruo! We're going snake hunting!" Hikari said.
"Right. Lead the way, Hikari!" Teruo said, the brothers sliding in between the angels' legs as they began their hot pursuit.
"You got this, Hikari! Tie them in a big fuckin' knot for us!" Panty cheered.
"We'll try and keep everyone out of harm's way, just focus on obliterating those fork-tongued chodes!" Stocking exclaimed.
And so, the chase was on! The Axews skittered across the tiled halls, dodging debris and passersby as the snakes rammed through the crowds. "Teruo, I got an idea! You take care of Seviper while I dethrone king cobra over here!" Hikari commanded as fired another lightning bolt.
"O-Okay! I'll try my best!" Teruo replied, shifting his attention to the bladed serpent. "Prepare to face my furious flames, villain!" He shot a fireball. A direct hit!
"Ow!" Seviper winced. "But it's gonna take more than a spicy meatball!" It hissed, racing towards a passing service cart. "If you're so gung-ho about defeating me, then try conquering this!" The fierce viper knocked over the cart, hurling it straight at Teruo.
"Oh crap!" Teruo instinctively slid under the hunk of metal. But he only had mere seconds before another was lobbed. Then another! All these acrobatics were straining his body. "Whew! That took a lot outta me! Hikari actually enjoys this!?" He whined, taking a moment to catch his breath.
"Aw? Is the baby already tuckered out? I'm just getting started!" Seviper taunted.
"S-Shut up! Huff… I-I've just been training my fire attacks so much that I haven't had time for cardio!"
"Hah! Some hero you are! What's the use of trying if you can't even catch up to little ol' me?"
"J-Just you wait! You're going to get scorched!"
"How about you unleash your 'inferno', then? C'mon! Give it all you got!" Seviper teased, swaying its head side-to-side while shaking its tail.
Teruo breathed deeply for a few moments, restoring oxygen levels to his muscles. He inhaled again, this time fueling the fire in his chest; glowing bright orange as heat built up. The energy traveled to his jaws, embers spilling from his nostrils. Tusks turned crimson seconds before the cannon was shot!
FWOOOOM! CR-CRACKLE!
"GAAAAAH!"Hellfire was wrought upon the serpentine spirit, the force nearly knocking him over. Seviper shook its head. "Grh… Y-You weren't bluffing! But that doesn't matter 'cause now you're history!" Seviper lunged forward and struck Teruo with its toxic blade.
"Oof!" Teruo slid across the floor, now sporting a gash on the side of his abdomen. He tried lifting himself but to no avail; the poison already kicked in. "M-Must be some poison ya got there… grh… B-But that doesn't matter… koff! I'll fight 'til the very end; just like big bro!" Teruo vowed, mustering up the energy to launch a flame burst.
The fire flickered in Seviper's ghoulish eyes "Bwahaha! This should be fun!" Seviper teased before charging its opponent.
Meanwhile, Hikari was hot on Arbok's tail; partly thanks to the Axew's dynamo body. "Give it up, you slithery spectre! If there's evil afoot, I'll be ready to kick their asses thanks to my generator of justice! I can do this all night, bitch!" He gloated, firing an electro ball.
Arbok nimbly dodged the attack. "Care to test that theory, little man?" It snarked, morphing the Jack-O-Lantern pattern on its hood; its eyes squinted and its mouth closed shut. Suddenly, Arbok was picking up speed! Each passing moment, the ghost became more of a glimpse to Hikari.
"Damn… That fucker's fast! How the hell can I keep up with that slippery snake?" Hikari pondered for a moment, recalling the piece of advice Volt gave to him... Snap!He snapped his fingers. "That's it! I'll use my electricity to increase my horsepower!" He increased his heart rate by shortening his breaths, which in-turn amped up his body. The more electricity he built, the faster he became. "Ya seeing this, Arbok!? I accept your little race and I willwin!" Hikari shouted. As he chased his foe down, his body glowed bright yellow and soon his muscles were overflowing with power, causing the hospital's lights to flicker as Hikari left a trail of excess electricity behind.
Zip! Zap! Flicker! Flicker!
And with this newfound power, it didn't take long for Hikari to catch up to Arbok. It was slithering along the walls, spitting its venom at whoever dared to be in its way. "Hold it right there! I'm gonna show you who the real speedster is!" Hikari exclaimed, rushing over to the ghost.
"Ohoho! Took ya long enough! I could've sworn ya tripped over a needle and had to get your boo-boos fixed!" Arbok mocked.
"The only boo-boos the doctors are fixing will be yours! Hyah!" Hikari launched at his target, pulling back his beefy right arm right before socking Arbok with a Thunder Punch!
CRACKLE! CRASH!
Arbok slammed straight onto the tiled floor, creating a trail of rubble and ectoplasm in its wake. "Agh… Urgh…Damn kid, you're tougher than I thought..." Arbok groaned, jittering as electricity seeped into his body.
Hikari approached the defeated spectre; having a smug look on his face. "Well, well, well… Who's the pipsqueak now, huh? Now if you don't mind, I got a bounty to collect. No worries, I'll make it quick and painless. Just think of it as sort of a… Spiritual cleansing." He said as he took the time to charge his final attack, head towards the ceiling.
BZZZZT!
Hikari looked back down. "Awright, here we go-Wait, WHAT!?" He couldn't believe it! All that remained was an empty husk. "Hey! Where didja go, ya jerk?! Come back here so I can finish you off!"
"Oh, but on the contrary…" A voice appeared behind Hikari. It was Arbok! "Ya shouldn't get too cocky, boy! Now suffer at the hands of your arrogance!" It flared its hood at Hikari, its second face burst into life! Its snaggletoothed maw like a bottomless void. Two pairs of yellow, glowing eyes which pierced the Axew's very soul; his muscles locking from pure horror.
"W-What the hell!? I can't fucking move!" Hikari tried twitching his muscles. Didn't even budge. There he was, frozen in the face of a hungry cobra. "Damn! Y-Ya had me for a sec, I ain't gonna lie!"
"That's what's so great about being able to shed your skin! You can shrug off just about anything!" Arbok boasted, closing in on his prey. "Now stay still like a tasty little morsel!"
"Hey, you forgot your side dish!" Seviper called out, tossing an incapacitated Teruo towards Arbok; landing by Hikari's side.
"Teruo! What happened!? You don't look too good…" Hikari panicked, eyes darting to his fallen brother.
"Koff! Koff! T-That bastard poisoned me… I-I tried to fend him off, I swear! But the toxins packed a punch… I'm sorry I failed you, Hikari…" Teruo groaned.
"What only matters is that you put up a good fight! I can respect that, Teruo. But don't you give up on me, ya hear? We'll get out of this situation somehow, I just know it!"
"Ahaha! How can you possibly defeat us now?! Especially when you're in a tight squeeze!" Arbok said, taking the opportunity to constrict the brothers. With his foes incapacitated, Arbok unhinged its jaws and closed in for the finishing blow. "Say goodbye to your pitiful lives!"
Teruo's eyes flickered. "H-Hikari… I think I see the light…" He weakly said; his body seeped with poison.
"Don't you dare give up on me now, dude! If you die here, who's going to help me kick Tetsuya's ass? We're in this together, dangit!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Grh... I dunno what's gonna kill me faster… The poison or this sudden fever… Seriously, who's messing with the thermostat?" Teruo's temperature started to rise; intensified by his inner flames and turning Teruo into a makeshift oven as it tried to boil out Seviper's toxins.
"What!? I didn't order a Hot Pocket-OW!" Arbok screeched, Teruo's fierce flames penetrating its skin. It swiftly released its captives before they could make fried cobra. "Now look at what you've done! You've ruined my perfect scales!" Arbok hissed, wiggling his tail.
"Oh please! You can always grow a new one, right?" Hikari shrugged. "Hey! I can move again! Now that I don't have to see your ugly mug, you're gonna pay for messing with my brother!" Hikari slammed his fists together; charged scales sending shockwaves across his body. While Hikari sized up Arbok, Seviper ambushed the Axew; not wanting to be outdone by some pipsqueak.
"Arbok relies on cheap tricks while I go straight for the kill!" Seviper snarled, baring its sabers. " I won't let you get away!"
"You know what they say about living by the sword!" Hikari quipped before he raked Seviper with electric claws, sending the viper crashing into the cobra.
Teruo looked at his older sibling, using what little strength he had left. "H-Hikari…" He muttered.
"Save your strength, Teruo! After I deal with these creeps, I'll get you some medicine. Just hang in there for just a little longer!"
Teruo replied with a nod. It was time for Hikari to finish this. Hikari pounded his chest, amping himself up. And was it just Teruo or did Hikari's muscles look even bigger? Must've been that built-up energy. "By the decree of Hikari Kiryu, and with Arceus as my witness, I shall liberate you from the shackles of Tetsuya!" Hikari got into position. He pointed his glowing lightning rod of a crest at the target, his electrified legs let loose a burst of energy that sent him rocketing towards the twin snakes.
KA-KRACKLE! BA-DOOM!
Hikari's electric outburst shook the building. In fact, the overload of energy created a power outage. But at least the hospital was cleansed of their poisonous poltergeists as moments later the back-up generator kicked in; revealing the avalanche of Heaven coins scattered across the halls. "H-Hah… We did it, Teruo! Phew, that was a tough one, eh?" Hikari commented, checking on his brother. He put a hand on Teruo's torso… He's still breathing; although faintly. "And I'm glad you kept your promise, lil' man..." Hikari sighed when he was suddenly approached by the Misdreavus.
"There you are! That explosion made me worried sick!" Misdreavus wailed, rushing towards Hikari. She was shocked at the sight of his fallen brother. "Oh dear! He appears to be overcome with toxins!"
"Y-Yeah… Poison-types already pack a punch, so we're lucky that he's still kicking!"
"Hold on, I got an antidote right here!" Misdreavus reached into her satchel, tossing over what appeared to be a weird peach.
"Wait, what's this?" Hikari inspected the fruit.
"It's a special kind of peach called 'Momon'! For centuries, folks have been using this as a cure-all for venom. Normally doctors like to mix it into their elixirs, but glass bottles are too much of a burden for lil' ol' me. There's plenty of snake bite patients that check in so I'm always prepared."
"Oh damn! Ya hear that, Teruo? Now open wide…" Hikari lifted Teruo's head and inserted the peach into his mouth. Teruo chewed… He could already feel the Momon's enzymes working their magic!
"Mrn… It's sweet… Mmn… Kinda tangy… Gulp!" Teruo sighed and shook his head. "Oh yeah, now I'm feeling it! The poison is being washed away!"
"Thank goodness!" Hikari wiped his forehead.
"Though, it'll be a bit before I can walk again. But I think I should be okay now thanks to this kind lady." Teruo smiled at the Misdreavus.
"Aw, it's nothin', sugar cube! You two saved everyone's hides, after all! Ya should be sprung as a spring chicken in a couple o' hours!" Misdreavus said.
"I'm wondering… Why haven't I heard of this magical fruit? Ya think I should've seen this at my local grocery store by now…" Hikari asked.
"That's 'cause Momons are a fickle fruit. They can only be grown around the highest mountains and it takes at least a thousand moons for trees to blossom… That goes for other medicinal fruits like Chigos, Nanashis, and Kurabos."
"So no matter what environment they prefer, they're all notorious for being a bitch to harvest?"
"That's right. I'm so sorry about that!"
"No, it's fine! I'm just grateful that you were able to save my bro… I dunno what I'd do without him…"
"Oh you're too kind, Hikari." Teruo smirked.
"Hey, we siblings have to stick together. I wonder where those angels went..." Hikari then noticed that a familiar boy was running towards them…
"Hikariiii! There you are!" It was Brief. "I heard there was a haunting around here so I came to see what all the commotion was about!" He stopped and looked at Teruo. "Jeez Louise! What happened!?"
"Fancy seeing you here, redhead! But I'm afraid the ghost's already busted! We used the power of Zekrom and Reshiram to blast those snakes to Kingdom Come!" Hikari greeted the boy before turning to his brother. "Yeah, Teruo took a nasty hit from the Seviper… The nurse has him taken care of, thank the stars. If it weren't for our training, we'd be six feet under…"
"Oh man… Wait, Zekrom and Reshiram!?"
"It's a long story, but basically we found out the mafia planned to use the Dragon Stones to take over the city. But then their plan backfired and we had to make our getaway. When we arrived back at the church, Reshiram and Zekrom were impressed at our bravery and lent us their powers in order to stop Tetsuya once and for all!"
"That's why you haven't seen us lately. We've just been training our new powers!" Teruo explained.
"And I gotta say, I'm loving my gains." Hikari smirked, flexing his bicep.
Brief stepped back. "Wait, back up! You had a run-in with the mafia!? Do the girls know about this!?"
"Well, yeah. It was at a casino, so of course the girls had to join the fun."
"They should know better than to put their apprentices into danger like that! Don't they know that the mafia is infamous for their shady dealings?!"
"Don't get your briefs in a knot, Geek Boy. All that matters is that we came out unscathed and we got these cool new powers!"
"For all we know, we disbanded the mafia. So I see this as a win for Heaven." Teruo commented.
"Oh great, now this place is haunted by the stench of NEET." Panty complained as the sisters reunited with Hikari. "Took you fuckers long enough. If those slithery shitheads hadn't caught us off-guard, it would've been a one-and-done job."
"P-Panty! Fancy seeing you here!" Brief stammered.
"Can't say the same for you, butterface. And wait-a-fuck, were you telling them our run-in with that pastry ghost? Not the titty monster that got my lardass sister, but that oversized wedding cake?!"
"N-Not at all! I was just–"
Panty struck Brief square on the noggin. "We told ya it was only between us, remember!? I couldn't score for a whole month because no one wants to fuck a girl with her own zip code!"
"Ya gotta admit though, the icing and cream were like an orgy of sucrose. I couldn't have enough of it!" Stocking cooed, rubbing her legs together.
"Of course you'd say that, you garbage disposal. You'd eat anything if it had even a grain of sugar."
"A girl can't help it, what can I say? Better than having a pack of Oscar Mayer's every night." Stocking snickered.
"Yeah whatever, Porky Pig! At least I'm getting my protein! But anyways… I'm impressed that you two fended off those ghosts. Guess it pays to be a gym rat."
"We thought you'd be snake chow for a second there. But hey, not bad for a pair of dweebs." Stocking smirked.
"At least now we can do whatever the fuck we want while they rake in the dough." Panty suggested, smiling devilishly at her sister.
"And cut into our training? Keep dreaming, blondie." Hikari said.
"Lending your workload to a pair of innocent civilians? That's not very angel-like of you, now is it?" Teruo sassed.
"I was just telling them that you two shouldn't be tossing these guys into danger so haphazardly! It spits in the face of the church! Garter sacrificed everything to maintain his connection with God. There's no way he would approve of that!" Brief protested.
"Firstly, they're the ones who wanted to overthrow the mob, not us! And secondly, that's rich coming from Garter's choir boy." Stocking said.
"Well if you girls insist on slacking off, then it's only fair that we keep all the profits and we find someone else to help us end the shadow curse." Hikari suggested.
"Over my dead body!" Panty snarled. "Fine. I guess it's our holy duty to assist you losers. Now hurry up and help us load this moolah to the car." She scoffed, picking up a hefty armful of Heaven Coins.
"Right away, Miss Panty!" Brief saluted before getting right to work, loading up on any shiny thing he could find.
"That goes for you, too, Toothless the dragon!" Panty commanded, referring to Hikari.
"But I gotta carry Teruo back to the car! I can't just leave him high and dry." Hikari said.
"Hold on, dude. I think I can…" Teruo lifted himself off the ground, balancing on his feet. "Oh yeah, this is much better! That Misdreavus is a miracle worker, I'll tell ya what." He grinned.
"Fruit is often called 'nature's medicine', I guess they're right." Hikari commented. "Just follow the girls and wait in the car, I'll do the heavy lifting. Wouldn't want to deal with a pulled muscle, now do we?" He insisted as he started carrying his payload.
"No… Wait, I should be saying the same to you! That finishing move must've used every muscle fiber in your body." Teruo retorted.
"Eh, I wouldn't worry about it! I've trained myself to recharge instantly. So theoretically I could've fought for hours at least. " Hikari boasted.
"Yeah, sure. Just don't come crying to me tomorrow morning when you can't even get out of bed."
"No pain, no gain!" Hikari witted as he carried off the bounty.
Eventually the riches were fully loaded onto their holy hummer; the backseat now filled with riches. "Heh, looks like you gotta call us dragons now that we got our treasure hoard." Hikari teased.
"Who do we look like, the Salvation Army? This shit is ours, ya got that!?" Panty protested as she started the vehicle.
"Oh don't be such a tightwad, Cleopatra. Hikari and Teruo are the ones who saved our asses, they deserve at least twenty bucks." Stocking objected.
"Twenty bucks?!I could blow that money at the disco! If we start giving handouts, then that stupid priest will demand his fair share. And there's no fucking way I'm letting his filthy paws on my money!"
"Hey! What about me?" Brief whined, popping up at Panty's door.
Panty rolled her eyes. "What about you? At least these oversized geckos did something. You stalked us here, you creep. Call a fuckin' cab! I'm sure mommy's worried sick about you." She snided.
"Yeah, get lost." Stocking said.
"But if it makes ya feel better, you can come over and witness the true might of the Tao Brothers." Hikari reassured the boy.
"Wait, really?! Maybe then I can see how far you've come as apprentices. Because clearly you've been doing the legwork while these girls laze about."
Panty slammed her fist on Brief's fingers. "Okay. That's enough outta you! Time to hightail it out of this hillbilly hospital!" She slammed the accelerator, rocketing across the backwoods road.
"Now that was cruel. Couldn't you have at least dropped him off at a bus stop? Poor fella's gonna be eaten by wolves." Teruo protested.
"Or worse, a horde of moonshiners." Hikari joked. "But seriously, are you sure Brief will make it home safely?"
"He'll figure it out. This one time, we used him as bait for a giant rose monster. And wouldn't you know it; the next day he was at our doorstep feeling peachy keen and smelling of flowers. Lemme tell ya, Geek Boy's like Chuck, he's a pain in the ass to get rid of." Stocking explained.
"What Stocking said. We got better shit to do than to be his babysitters." Panty said.
"You mean scarfing down a large pizza while being plowed by the local football team?" Hikari smirked.
"Don't make me toss you into the highway! … Though that ain't a bad idea…" Panty began to drool.
"Well, Hikari. Our training is starting to pay off! I can't believe we defeated those ghosts all by ourselves!" Teruo said, laying back.
"Tell me about it. It wasn't only a ghost, but a Poke-ghost! I haven't felt so alive! Man, I can't wait 'til we face off against Krateros! I'm going to show him who's the real boss of his temple of iron!"
"We'll just have to see about that. We're gonna need to rest for a couple of days if we want a chance at even touching him."
"Fair point. Guess it's settled, then. We'll chill for a couple days and then BAM! We show that gorilla-armed geezer what it means to tussle with the Kiryus!"
Teruo chuckled. "You crack me up, Hikari. If only I were so enthusiastic about combat..."
"You'll get there someday, I just know it… You just gotta keep workin' at it and then one day you're on top of the world." Hikari smiled at his brother. As the angels cruised the highway, Hikari and Teruo looked up at the brilliant, starry sky. Soon enough they shall liberate this land from Tetsuya's tyranny…
To be Continued…