~Voltaic Crater~
Vikavolt… Hourglass. I know you have it. Give it to me!
Four metal arms bust out of a Chargestone. Wayward currents ran in all directions. Metagross smacked his arms together. A clangechoed through the blue basin, followed by a brilliant rainbow shockwave. Tiny bugs disappeared in bursts of steam and light.
"You monster!" Totem Vikavolt chittered, landing atop an intact Chargestone. "Those Pokémon were innocent and you… you vaporized them like it was nothing!"
Shard. I must… have shard…
Drawing from the Chargestone, Totem Vikavolt arced lightning toward Metagross. His arms turned purple.
Distance dodge… times two.
Metagross effortlessly slipped past the lightning. Totem Vikavolt barely kicked off the Chargestone in time to avoid Metagross ramming it. He fired lightning directly downward, shouting, "I'm not letting you get away with this!"
A psychic shockwave split the lightning apart and blasted Totem Vikavolt out of the sky. He plummeted to the ground, spinning and screaming. Metagross intercepted him. He drove Totem Vikavolt into the wall. Just as Totem Vikavolt's exoskeleton shattered, multiple colors surrounded Metagross' limbs.
Disappear.
A brilliant flash of light swallowed Totem Vikavolt up. His Totem Crystal fell onto the electrified dirt at the base of the wall. Metagross dropped down toward it, ignoring the splintering crater he'd left in the wall. He grabbed the Totem Crystal in his upper right limb.
This does not… invalid registry, Metagross said. Totem Crystal… gave same energy pattern… as Hourglass. He clamped down on the Totem Crystal, shattering it. Wayward wisps of multicolored energy dissolved into the air. Metagross opened his claws, sprinkling the crystal's dusty remnants along the ground.
Not here… not here… then where? he said. Must find… must escape. Can't be killed… I won't die. They must die… I will have peace. Metagross' eight limbs turned golden and he clapped them together. In a flash of multicolored light, he found himself back in front of the large, electrified archway marking the entrance of Voltaic Crater.
Chargestones interfering… with ESP, Metagross said, floating out of the dungeon. He sped along the trail, hoping to put as much distance between himself and Voltaic Crater as he could. After a few minutes, Metagross floated to a stop. His eyes flashed pink. Scanning. Scanning. Scanning.
Metagross' eyes narrowed. Hourglass located. Moving south. Approximate speed… unknown. Not very quick, though, he said, glancing at his limbs. Can't draw on powers to close distance. Must go after it.
He was about to resume floating, when he paused. His front arms twitched. Tingling ran across the jagged metal where his cross once sat. Lifeforms. I detect multiple lifeforms… accompanying Hourglass. Some signatures are… familiar, he said. Former subordinates… are trying to use it… behind my back.
I will not let them. The Hourglass is mine, Metagross said. I will escape. I will not die. They will not kill me. I will kill them first.
He sped off down the trail, a stream of multicolored light trailing out behind him.
Episode 14: In Spite of All
Chapter 80: Hazed & Confused
~Circadian Coast, Daybreak Beach~
Shane's biggest worry as he followed his team through the waypoint exiting Sunset Shoals was that, despite their best efforts, utter bedlam would erupt once the crowd was freed from their hypnotic states. And, certainly, that worry grew when Gallian, Zoroark, and Jolteon rushed toward them, looking quite confused. Espy proposed giving the wild Pokémon instructions to return home using their Dawn Shards, but was quickly shot down. That idea didn't sit well with her teammates.
He was so lost in thought, he didn't realize Cosplay Pikachu had recalled the outfits she had made for the team into the glowing orb around her neck. Luckily for Team Radiance, Kahuna Raichu stepped in. As the hypnosis wore off, he gathered all the Pokémon up. Kahuna Raichu draped the crowd in warm pink light from his Totem Crystal. The confused and panicked looks on their faces faded.
"Wait, I thought we agreed to no hypnosis," Espy said, brow furrowed.
"It's not hypnosis. It's Z-Power… I think," Silvally said, glowing pink from his psychic memories. "Feels like he's using some sort of modified version of Calm Mind."
"And just how's that supposed to work?" Espy said, ears twitching nervously.
"In light of everything that's happened so far today, I think it's best not to dwell on that," Tessa said, rubbing the back of her head. Shane and Silvally both gave her nods of support. "Besides. We, uh, have a few loose ends that need tending to." She jerked her head in the Xurkitrees' direction. Gallian and Zoroark stood near them, eyes widened in a mix of awe and terror.
"Oof. Yeah, you're right on the mark, there," Silvally said, wincing. "Why don't you tend to your brother? Espy and Shane can help me with, uh, these two." Silvally couldn't bring himself to look at the Xurkitrees. His head crest and ears drooped. He curled sand up in his talons.
Noticing Silvally's discomfort, Tessa turned to Shane. "Hey, why don't you or Espy try to get those two out of sight. Like, over by the jungle," she said, pointing her left paw toward the edge of the beach.
Shane turned around with a gulp. He had absolutely no idea what to do with the Xurkitrees. Could they even understand him? Shane had no real body language to go off of. He couldn't even tell if they felt calm or frightened by what was going on.
"Um… hello? Can you guys hear me?" Shane said, raising his tails up and gently swaying them.
Neither Xurkitree responded. They didn't even move. How was Shane supposed to know if he was making what constituted eye contact with these Ultra Beasts?
"I'm, uh, part of the team that rescued you two," Shane continued, glancing nervously at his teammates. "We were hoping you could follow us over to those trees. Y'know, so we could talk to you… or something." He looked expectantly at the Xurkitrees.
Electricity crackled around their heads. Shane's fur frazzled. A current shot across his mane, making it poof up. It ran down his spine and jumped between his tails, forcing him to spread them apart with a startled yip. "H… hey! Whoa! Take it easy! I'm not out to hurt you guys," he said, ears folding against his head. He wished he could borrow Silvally's type-swapping abilities.
"You're supposed to have an ultra aura, right? You don't suppose these guys can sense it on you, can they?" Espy said, staring curiously at the Xurkitrees heads. No electricity was running down their limbs, so they didn't intend to attack.
"Wouldn't that make them friendlier, then?" Shane said, digging his paws into the sand to ground himself. When the last of the current left his fur, he shut his eyes and scrunched his face up. He had to draw on Solgaleo's power somehow. Where was that burning sensation deep inside him? Shane needed it, but also feared he would accidentally attack the Xurkitrees and make everything worse.
'Deep breaths,' he told himself. Shane found the burning cinders inside his spirit. He opened his mouth, as if to gather an attack, but instead released lukewarm air around him. The Xurkitrees stopped sparking as a compass-like symbol faintly glowed on Shane's forehead.
"Please listen to me. We're not your enemies. My friends and I want to help you. But I need you both to stay calm," Shane said. He couldn't keep his grip on the fiery energy. It dissipated, along with the glowing rune. Shane stumbled forward. Espy caught him before he collapsed. Curiously, both Xurkitrees tucked their limbs in and squatted down so their heads weren't towering above Espy and Shane.
"What's happening? Did you make them mad?" Espy asked, ears and tail shooting up.
"They're not mad. They're just… confused."
Silvally appeared beside his teammates. Tessa was at his side, rubbing his shoulder with her left paw.
"You can understand them?" Shane gasped.
"I think so," Silvally said, the pink glow in his eyes and crest intensifying. "That electricity crackling around them… that's how they communicate." His teammates gave him skeptical looks. "It's, um, I'm not sure they have the same level of intelligence that we do. All I can really pick up are their emotions."
"Well, that's not going to help us," Shane said, figuring the day's real challenge wasn't battling an enemy, but trying to help the strange aliens. "Is there anything specific you can pick up?"
"There's confusion," Silvally said. "But also… longing?" He cocked his head to the side.
"Can't you try reading their minds?" Tessa said, frowning.
"I could, but I'm not sure what that would do to them. The last thing I want is to set off a panic while Kahuna Raichu's tending to all those other Pokémon," Silvally said, frowning. "Hang on, I think there's one thing I can try." Silvally stepped forward, gulping. There were faint whispers in the back of his mind. Telling him not to help, but to slaughter. These weren't Pokémon, after all. They weren't worth his time or energy. Silvally felt piercing gazes staring him down from all directions, but couldn't see them.
He shut his eyes. A purple iris with a slit pupil looked back at him. He scrunched up his face. Silvally shook his head. His teammates were counting on him. He revved up his cheek-bolts, generating pink sparks. The Xurkitrees twitched, then released stray bolts of their own. This back and forth continued for a few seconds.
"I think I've got something," Silvally said. "The fear and confusion is from all this unfamiliarity. These guys are used to lightning. From what I could gather, their world is a world of electricity and little else." His teammates exchanged concerned looks. Silvally's head crest drooped. "You guys aren't doubting me, are you?"
"What? No, of course not," Tessa said, aura feelers tensing. "I think we're all in agreement they were somehow abducted from their homes."
"Like those Nihilego thingies back in the Cavernous Depths," Shane said.
Tessa nodded. "The hard part for me is trying to envision a world of lightning," she said. "Like, are these two the only inhabitants? Or do the other inhabitants look exactly like them?"
Silvally turned and produced more sparks. The Xurkitrees briefly crackled. "It's the latter," Silvally said, trying to sound confident. "Also, I'm picking up a vibe that's different than before. It feels… eager? Hopeful? I can't quite put my beak on it."
The Xurkitree on the group's left raised a limb. Everyone tensed, fearing a potential strike. It lowered the limb in front of Espy, who stared at it with wide eyes. "Is… is it trying to talk to me?" she said, tail crinkling up.
Silvally exchanged electric currents with the Xurkitrees. "Your bag. That's the source of the vibes," he said.
"You don't think they want the Dawn Shards, do you?" Shane asked.
"Wait!" Tessa shouted, causing everyone to jump. She cupped a paw over her muzzle in embarrassment. "Sorry, but I just realized something. If Primarina was the one who summoned these two, he probably did it by using the Seaside Shard's power," she said. Her teammates' eyes widened in realization. "If one shard brought them here… three should be more than enough to send them back."
Espy looked at her satchel. "But… how do we make a portal to send them home?" she said. "I… I can't do it. Not after… not after…" Her tail curled against her belly and she winced.
Shane stepped toward her. "I'll do it," he said. It made the most sense. Primarina got power-drunk off the Seaside Shard. Shane didn't want to risk the same thing happening to one of his friends. Besides, he knew he'd have to accept the full Dawn Hourglass' power eventually. The problem was, he feared drawing out too much power would cause him to
"Shane, are you sure about that? The two shards you've touched already… those visions shook you up pretty badly," Tessa said.
"I used the Dawn Shards against Primarina didn't I? Besides, I have to," Shane said. "I'm not…" His voice trailed off. "If one of you tries to do it, you might end up turning as power-hungry as Primarina did."
No one tried to rebut him. They knew he was right. "Then let's use the Sizzle Shard or the Subterranean Shard," Silvally said. "That way, we run less of a risk of Shane having one of his visions."
"I like that idea," Shane said as Espy put her satchel down in front of him. She levitated the Subterranean Shard out and set it by Shane's left forepaw. "Here goes nothing," Shane said, putting his left forepaw on the shard.
Nothing happened. Shane looked down at it, brow furrowed. Maybe he needed to focus on what he wanted to do?
'Ultra Wormhole… I need an Ultra Wormhole to send these aliens home!'
A white-hot surge of energy shot through Shane. His looplet and forehead reacted, shining brightly with the compass insignia. Shane's skin tingled and his prickled fur ruffled as if a sudden gust of wind had battered him. His heart rate spiked. This wasn't like when he used the Shards during the performance. It felt different. There was a weight tugging on Shane's forepaw, but he didn't dare pull it away.
He silently repeated his please for an Ultra Wormhole. This time, a brief ripple appeared in front of him. A purple eye flickered in front of Shane for a brief instant. His tails shot up in alarm. Shane shot a despondent look toward his teammates, but they didn't catch it. Instead, the pressure on his foreleg grew stronger. Hissing, Shane gritted his teech.
His teammates stepped away, staring in awe as white light swirled around Shane. It sprang off him and hit the ground in front of the Xurkitrees. The light spread out like water poured onto a mound of sand, creating a swirling purple portal.
"It's working!" Tessa said.
Silvally's cheek-bolts sparked. The Xurkitrees got the message and hopped into the portal. As soon as they were gone, Shane removed his paw. The flow of energy ceased, leaving a residual numbness in Shane's paws and tails. He stumbled and fell onto his side, breathing heavily. Tessa and Silvally ran to his side.
"I'm okay," Shane said. "I'm… okay." He shakily got to his feet. He wasn't exactly okay, but he was still himself. There weren't any extended visions. That was all that mattered.
"I guess… that takes care of that," Silvally said, visibly relieved the Xurkitrees were gone. "I suppose we should regroup with the others."
"Sounds good. You coming, Espy?" Shane looked over his shoulder to find Espy staring down the Gear-Com unit.
"Yeah," she said, joining up with the team. The Gear-Com floated beside her. "So, I spoke with Magearna. It sounds like her group's got the Scalebound Shard… and apparently some extra volunteers looking to help." Her teammates gave her confused looks. "I'm not entirely sure what she meant, but it sounds like we'll have all the Dawn Shards together in a matter of hours."
Shane slowed his pace, gaze drifting downward. Though this was good news, it left a sinking feeling in his stomach. He would have to accept the Dawn Hourglass' full power much sooner than he thought. Solgaleo's spirit would reawaken… and then what? Did this mean his time in the world of Pokémon – his time with his friends – was at an end?
"Shane."
Tessa put her paw on Shane's shoulder. He flinched, tails curling up. "Are you okay?" Tessa said.
"Hey there, cousins! You get everything settled with those aliens?"
Kahuna Raichu floated over to the group. Gallian and Zoroark trailed behind him. Cosplay Pikachu lay fast asleep in Zoroark's arms, much to his chagrin.
"We did. And, even better, our friends managed to get the last shard. They're heading over from Rem Canyon," Espy said, tail wagging.
"Woo! Sounds like everything's working out," Kahuna Raichu said, raising his arms up and smiling. "I was able to get the wild 'mons back into the ocean safely… and sent the guests back to their rooms to recuperate."
"Um, so, should we set out to try and meet up with the others? Time is of the essence, isn't it?" Gallian said, scythe flickering pink and black.
"Hey now, let's not get too hasty. You guys are pretty exhausted, aren't you? Maybe we ought to let Team Radiance rest up," Zoroark said.
Gallian winced. "I just… think it's better if we leave," he said.
Tessa stepped toward Gallian, confident his disaster sense was talking. Before she could say anything, though, Espy spoke up. "It wouldn't do us any good at this point. I mean… we never even thought about how we can put the Dawn Hourglass back together from its shards."
"Hmm… that is an issue, yeah," Kahuna Raichu said. "If I had to wager a guess, the Tapus would probably know how."
"Yeah. Braviary and Steenee are still with them, but I can't get a signal on their Gear-Coms… assuming they even have them," Espy said, looking at the Gear-Com with a furrowed brow. "For all we know, the Tapus might be blocking any signals out of fear Necrozma could find them." Espy sighed. "Latias said she could get the Tapus for us, but I can't reach her, either."
"What are we supposed to do in the meantime, then? Twiddle our claws? That just doesn't sit well with me," Gallian said.
"I think you should take the time to rest up. I can offer you all some food. And you can use my place to clean yourselves up, if you'd like," Kahuna Raichu said, smiling.
"I'd appreciate that," Espy said.
Sensing Gallian's continued restlessness, Tessa turned to him. "How about this? We take a bit of time to recover. Espy can get cleaned up first, then try contacting Latias again," she said. "As soon as Espy's able to reach Latias, we'll tell her to come over with Hoopa and bring all of us to the Temple of Balance so we can restore the Dawn Hourglass while we're safely hidden away."
"I… yeah, that'll work," Gallian whispered. Tessa smiled at him and nodded.
"In that case, I'm going to head to the infirmary," Tessa said.
"What? Why? Are you hurt?" Silvally said, worry spreading across his face.
"No," Tessa said, her expression turning crestfallen. "But, well, I want to make sure Jolteon and Vaporeon are okay. And—" She cut herself off with a gulp. "Someone has to tell Primarina about what happened to Serperior. He deserves to know."
"Are you sure you don't want some backup?" Silvally said. "I can—"
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine," Tessa said, aura feelers twitching. "You go get cleaned up. I'll catch up with you guys soon." She walked past the group, heading for the resort.
"I guess we should get going, too," Espy said.
"You guys can follow me back to my place," Kahuna Raichu said, turning to levitate his daughter out of Zoroark's arms. As the group walked, Shane cut Gallian and Zoroark off.
"What's up, Shane? You need something?" Zoroark asked.
Shane bit his lower lip. He had walked in front of them on impulse. "Um, well…" His voice trailed off. "Can I talk to you two?" he said.
"Can't it wait until we're inside?" Gallian said.
"No. I, um, it's a private conversation," Shane said. He needed their help, but his mouth was working faster than his mind.
"Uh, okay," Zoroark said, exchanging a curious look with Gallian. "Wouldn't one of your teammates be able to help you better?"
Shane shook his head. This was something that they were best suited for helping him with. The problem was his thoughts were muddled. He knew he had to say something before things got too weird.
Memories flashed by in his head. He saw cafeteria tables. Classmates stood above him, their mouths moving but no words coming out. Nicky's expressionless face floated by. Then, they all faded to black, replaced by disembodied mouths. The mouths curled their lips into smiles and opened wide. They didn't make any noises.
"Are you sure you don't want your teammates? You look… really out of it. And neither of us are healers," Gallian said, frowning.
Shane stared blankly at the sand. Slowly, he opened his mouth.
"When did… you figure out… that you liked guys?"
The words came out without Shane even realizing. After he finished speaking, he blinked several times, then tucked his head against his chest. "I— sorry, I shouldn't have said that," he whispered.
"I'm, um, not really sure what you mean by that. You're a Ninetales, after all," Gallian said.
"Huh?" Shane cocked his head to the side.
"Gallian, c'mon, you know he's technically a human," Zoroark said, shaking his head. "It might be different for him."
"Oh… right. It's still kinda confusing," Gallian said.
Sighing, Zoroark rubbed the middle of his brow. "How about this, Shane. Can you tell us why you're bringing this subject up?" he asked. "Maybe if we had some context, we could figure out how to help you."
"U-um, well…" Shane's tails twisted around one another. He wanted their help, but was worried about recounting some of the things that had happened since yesterday night. After a few seconds of avoiding Gallian's and Zoroark's gazes, Shane mumbled, "I… it's Silvally. We kinda… might've kissed last night, I think?"
Zoroark's brows raised. "Oh. So, this morning, when we saw you—"
"That was an accident!" Shane shouted, flinching when he realized how loud he was. He shrank down toward the ground, ears and tail drooping. "And it's not just that. There were… a lot of strange moments… at Sunset Shoals. Pokémon were staring at me. Not 'making eye contact' staring, but, like, staring at my body. I'm pretty sure Silvally was one of them. Hell, I think all my teammates did it."
"I just— I don't understand," Shane continued, shaking his head. "When we kissed, there was this tiny spark." He paused. "No, I think it was more than that. There was an urge… to do something more." Shane scrunched his face up. "But I don't… I can't… it was just an evolution high thing, wasn't it?"
"I'm not sure what to tell you," Gallian said, sitting on his haunches. "Like I said, you're a Ninetales."
"And, again, what does that have to do with anything?" Shane said, frowning.
Zoroark put a paw on Gallian's shoulder. "I'm not sure he really gets it." He looked at Shane. "Listen, Shane, Ninetales are exceedinglyrare. Like, aside from the Totem on Solstice Summit, I'm not sure if there were any other Ninetales in all of Horizon before you came along."
Shane blinked slowly, trying to process this revelation.
"In some respects, you're kinda mythical. And that sentiment spreads to your appearance, too," Gallian said. "My dad's old books mentioned Ninetales were highly sought after as mates because of how they looked. So, you shouldn't be surprised by what happened. In fact, I'd expect you to get your fair share of curious looks any time you walk into a public space."
Shane took a cautious step back. "Y-you mean those Pokémon in Sunset Shoals were—"
"Checking you out? Probably," Gallian said, shrugging.
"No." Shane shook his head. "It… it had to have been Primarina's hypnosis or something. I'm not—"
"I don't think it was," Zoroark said, scratching the remnants of his left ear.
"W… why not?" Shane said.
"Well, uh…" Zoroark tapped his claws together.
"I thought you said you weren't going to bring it up," Gallian hissed, glaring at Zoroark. Shane's ears twitched. He didn't like Gallian's tone.
"Oh, come on, he deserves to know," Zoroark said, pointing at Shane.
"Will you stop talking about me like I'm not here?" Shane said, his temper slipping. He wanted their help, but they were only making things more difficult.
"… fine," Gallian said, turning away. "The truth is… we, uh, might've been checking you out while you were preparing to Mantine Surf."
Shane's tails shot into the air, then quickly curled up against his hips. He felt unclean. "Why?" Shane squeaked.
"If it's any consolation, we both teased each other about it," Zoroark said, laughing nervously. Shane replied with a frown that said there was little consolation to be had.
"Like I said… you're alluring," Gallian said, biting his lower lip. "And that's something you'll have to get used to. Pokémon that can mate… we all have some degree of attraction to both guys and girls. My dad said it comes down to your spirit. You can have plenty of crushes in your lifetime. But when you find a 'mon that you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with… you'll know. It won't just be your heart racing or your fur standing on end… something will stir deep inside you."
Shane pawed nervously at the sand. "Then… what I felt with Silvally—"
"Honestly sounds like you got a bit caught up in the moment. Like you said, it might've been the evolution high," Gallian said. "Truthfully, I had some similar issues when I first joined the guild. Vaporeon was assigned to mentor me and, well, I had a real tough time concentrating on my work. It might've gotten me in some hot water…" He paused. "Like, literally, because I did get Scalded in the face for trying to make a move."
Zoroark burst out laughing. "And when were you going to share that with me, huh?"
Gallian's face reddened and he looked away. Shane stared at the two of them, unsure what to make of everything they said. Part of it had to do with Espy. Between their conversation yesterday night and what happened during Primarina's concert, Shane felt like he was stuck in a labyrinth maze with no exits.
Shane sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up. I'm just…" He closed his eyes and shook his head. "It's complicated. It doesn't even feel like I can really explain what I'm thinking. Like, one part of me is a bit upset that I liked kissing a guy, but the other part doesn't really care. I'm so confused and I don't really know what to think. Is my human mind fighting with Solgaleo's spirit about the subject?"
He dropped to the ground and rubbed his head with his forepaws. "Nngh. I swear, this shit's gonna drive me crazy! Assuming I'm not already crazy! Because I kinda feel that way," Shane said.
Gallian and Zoroark exchanged worried looks, wondering if they were actually making things worse. "Um, if you don't mind me asking, is there something wrong with humans being attracted to the same gender?" Zoroark said.
"No— I mean yes! I mean, uh, maybe?" Shane said, ears folding against his head. "I'm not really sure. But—" He paused, his mouth still open. Shane's eyes widened in realization. The disembodied mouths floating around in his mind faded, replaced by the faces of his peers. Nicky appeared too. This time his expression was much clearer. He was distraught. No, he was upset. Shane was certain of it.
Shane took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. He sat up, swishing sand out of his mane. "I figured out what the problem is. It's Necrozma." Shane paused, expecting Gallian and Zoroark to voice their concerns, but they remained silent. "Back when we were friends in our, uh, human school, we would spend time together. Every so often, some of our classmates would come up to us and make comments about how closely I stuck by him."
"I thought they were just wisecracking. And my parents told me that the best way to win people over was to play along with them when they were joking around," Shane continued. "So, that's what I did. Only…" His ears drooped. "They weren't playing along. The things I thought were jokes… were insults. They were picking on me and, by extension, Nicky. But I gave them serious responses…"
"Nicky got really upset at me. He told me I needed to keep my trap shut if someone came up to us when we were together," Shane said. "I didn't really understand what the problem was, but now I get it." He pawed nervously at the ground. "They were acting like Nicky and I were a couple… and when I took the bait, they used that opportunity to pick on us even more. Only I didn't pick up on it. I thought they were laughing with me… not at me. Which means that Nicky… he had to sit there and listen to our classmates call him gay."
"And you're only realizing this now?" Zoroark said, raising a skeptical brow.
"I, well…" Shane's voiced trailed off and he winced. "I wasn't, um, very good at socializing… when I was human. I think I probably misunderstood a bunch of stuff. I got told off a lot for making mistakes." He shrank down toward the ground. "When that happened, I would shut down. I didn't want to hear people telling me I was doing things wrong. So, I refused to listen to them… and kept acting how I wanted to act. And, well, that included Nicky."
"But ever since I got here… things have been different. The more mistakes I make here, the more obvious it's gotten just how much of a screw-up I was when I was human," Shane said. "I'd like to think that means I'm finally learning how to work well with others, but I fear that this is really just Solgaleo's spirit shining through and that, in truth, I'm still the same stubborn, ignorant idiot I was as a human."
"That's why this is bothering me. What happened with Silvally… every time I dwell on it, I'm reminded of all the foolish decisions I made when I was around Nicky," Shane said. "And there are so many of those moments, it's overwhelming! It's suffocating!" His breath came in short gasps.
"You need to talk to Silvally about this," Zoroark said, a stern look on his face.
"W… what? I—" Shane cut himself off and tried to bury his head in his tails.
Gallian stomped a forepaw down in front of Shane. "Hey, listen up! You're doing the exact thing you just complained about… shutting down because Zoroark's telling you something you don't want to hear."
"But I… I don't want to hurt Silvally's feelings. He's… my friend," Shane whimpered. There was also the fact that Shane was worried about Silvally losing control again, but he didn't want to bring it up.
"Which is exactly why you should talk with him," Zoroark said, twirling a lock of hair in his claws. "Friends, family, a mate… they're all relationships. Each one needs a set of boundaries. I mean… I wouldn't exactly say I'm an expert on friendship or anything. But I'd like to think I'm experienced enough to tell you that a real friend is someone who knows you well enough to understand when they've crossed a line. Which, it sounds like, Silvally did for you."
Shane's jaw slackened. In a swirl of light and colors, Zoroark faded out of Shane's vision, replaced by Nicky's blurry image.
"For god's sake, Shane, you've got to stop being so clingy! You're just giving them more ammunition. Please… respect my boundaries, dude."
"I see," Shane whispered, lowering his head as the mental image faded away. "Thanks… for helping me and stuff."
Gallian and Zoroark exchanged unconvinced looks. "We should try to find Kahuna Racihu's place. After all, you must be pretty tired," Zoroark said.
"No, I'm okay," Shane said, looking at them. "You guys go ahead. I need to do some thinking."
"You sure?" Gallian said.
Shane nodded. "I'll be fine. Like I said, I appreciate you hearing me out."
"Err… okay, then. Guess we'll see you back in the resort," Gallian said. He walked along the beach with Zoroark following him. Zoroark was about to say something to Gallian, when he caught sight of Tessa walking past him. Gallian tried to get Tessa's attention, but she was focused on Shane.
"Um, should we try to stop her? Shane seemed like he wanted to be alone," Zoroark said, frowning.
"I think it's best if we stay out of it," Gallian said, his eyes flickering pink. "Much as I hate to say it… I think they can do better for each other than we can." With a sigh, he turned back around and proceeded toward the resort.
~Frosty Grotto Summit~
Even with prism armor covering her whole body, Zero hated the cold. It irked her that her last-second detour brought her to such a frigid place. She tolerated it in this instance, however, because it made for perfect cover. Using her psionic powers, she had whipped snow up from giant mounds around her, forming an icy veil to hide her approach. Zero floated in the air, knowing the crunching of her feet against the snow could tip her target off. Assuming, of course, her target hadn't already fled.
Zero paused to focus on her aura sense. There was a weak flare pulsating a few yards ahead of her. It flickered like a dying candle's flame in her aura sight. She had no doubt the Pokémon she sensed was aged and, thus, the one she was looking for. Zero spun her staff around. She made a peephole in her snowy veil. There, pacing nervously around an ice-coated nest, was a raggedy Absol. His scythe, tail, and claws were brittle. The horn was even chipped at its tip. Absol's fur had grayed.
"Apologies, old-timer," Zero said, raising her free paw. Absol's scythe flickered. He turned around. His eyes widened. Zero whipped her paw forward. A distorted red forcefield formed around Absol. He tried to run out of the forcefield, but found himself moving in slow-motion. Zero pointed her scepter at Absol. Red cube clusters popped in around the forcefield. Red, liquified spears burst forth from the cubes.
They punctured Absol's torso from every angle. The forcefield silenced any agonized cries. Zero waved he right paw. The forcefield dispelled. Absol stood there, jaw dropped and eyes glazed over. Crystals spread out across his body. The liquid spikes retracted into the cube clusters. Zero pointed her staff at them and sucked them up like they were giant dust mites.
Absol's spirit coursed up her left arm and dug itself underneath her mask. Zero dropped to the ground and closed her eye. With his spirit under her control, she could tap into his abilities. She had no interest in the moves of an aging Pokémon, however. It was all about his disaster sense. Though she suspected old age had dulled it, she could still put it to use. With it, she could know with one-hundred percent certainty that her plan with the Time Gears was feasible.
Zero summoned the Time Gear in her possession to her right paw. She gripped it tightly and concentrated. Immediately, her heart rate picked up. Her eyelid twitched. Even her aura dreadlocks tensed up. Zero clenched her left paw tightly around her staff. Something about her plan was setting off her newly-obtained disaster sense. She had to figure out what it was.
Could it be the Time Gears? Zero opened her eye and stared intently at it. Her heart slowed down. She shook her head and growled.
Zero thought of the next component: Temporal Tower. It was needed to get access to the timeline, after all. Her heart rate picked up again. Zero stored the Time Gear with a wave of her staff, mulling over what about Temporal Tower presented a problem. The first thing that came to mind was the tower getting damaged and time standing still. Her breathing grew more labored. Her aura dreadlocks curled up.
"The tower… collapsing?" she whispered, her eye darting about. "But why would—"
Zero clenched her fist. "Necky," she hissed, shutting her eye. "It's him, isn't it?" In response, her aura dreadlocks lashed at the air like furry whips. She had her answer. Necrozma was trying to destroy Temporal Tower. Which meant, she had to stop him.
She thought of her plan with Manaphy. If she could distract Necrozma, Manaphy could use Heart Swap. Her heart rate slowed a bit and her aura dreadlocks relaxed. She nodded. Her plan was sound. However, if Necrozma was going to attack Temporal Tower, would she need all the Time Gears, first? She opened her eye and looked at her red chest spike. Her heart rate hadn't picked back up again.
The way forward was clear. First, Dragonite would steal the Time Gears. Then, she'd use them to get to Temporal Tower, ideally before Necrozma could. Nodding in approval, Zero raised her staff to open up a portal. However, her aura dreadlocks tensed. She looked up.
"Stop right there, heathen!"
A shrill squawk cut through the air. With a hearty flap of her wings, Articuno descended from a gray storm cloud. "I saw what you did. You're the vile mortal who got Zapdos, aren't you?" she cawed.
"And what if I am?" Zero said, eye flashing blue.
Frigid air whipped up around Zero. Aritcuno narrowed her eyes. "You robbed me of two dear friends! I will not let these injustices stand!" she bellowed. "I will freeze you to the bone with a single strike, fiend!"
Zero tensed up, realizing Articuno intended to end her with Sheer Cold. She wouldn't give the god the chance. Concentrating on her spiritual energy, Zero shot into the air. A silhouette of Zapdos momentarily flickered in around her. Articuno was too busy concentrating on gathering gale-force wind for an all-out assault to notice. Zero silently raised her scepter.
A multi-ringed sigil with a lightning bolt in the center appeared around it. Identical runes appeared over Articuno. She looked up. Her eyes bulged out. Articuno tried to back away, but couldn't escape the lightning storm that rained down on her from above. It seared her feathers and scorched her tail to a smoke stub. Articuno plummeted to the ground. She landed in a snowbank with an unceremonious thud.
Zero tightened her grip on her staff. Black shadows spiraled around it. They dispelled, revealing a scythe resembling the one Absol had. Zero slashed the air in front of her. Numerous black and red crescents sailed forward. They tore through the snow bank. A pained screech echoed through the air. Blood seeped into the ice and snow on the ground.
"I'll be taking your spirit," Zero said. She tossed the scythe. It spun through the air as if it was a spiky wheel. The scythe ran up Articuno's midsection, leaving behind a jagged red line. Black shadows spilled out from the distorted gash. By the time Articuno split in half, she was completely crystallized.
Zero stuck out her left paw and caught the scythe. She felt Articuno's life energy wash across her. Zero flexed the digits on her right paw. She pointed it to her right. "Hurricane," she said. A sudden vortex whipped up in front of her. It tore across the ground, kicking up snow and rocks. She dispelled the tornado, sending its contents tumbling down past the gray clouds marking the boundary of Frosty Forest.
"There. That little avalanche should keep the locals busy," Zero said. She tapped the scythe against the ground and it morphed back into her scepter. Zero used it to open a black portal behind her. She stepped into it, leaving the desecrated snowy area behind.
~Circadian Kabana~
Kahuna Raichu's house sat behind the restaurant area of the resort. It was a round building with two chimneys made of yellow bricks to resemble Kahuna Raichu's ears. The inside was surprisingly spacious. Silvally had settled into the lounge room, planting himself on a shaggy carpet beside a wooden table. The walls were decorated with orange drapes and a single picture of Daybreak Beach.
He sat there, staring down at the table, even as Espy went off to use the shower. Eventually, Cosplay Pikachu walked into the room, dressed in a Slurpuff hoodie. She set a plate down next to Silvally. It held a stack of three pancakes shaped like a Pikachu's head. They had blueberries sprinkled on them in a smiley face pattern, with two strawberries serving as the cheek sacs and a triangular butter pat representing the nose.
"Tell your friends we've got pancakes for them whenever they show up," Cosplay Pikachu said, before leaving Silvally to return to the kitchen.
Sighing, Silvally returned his gaze to the table. And it would've stayed there had his stomach not voiced its displeasure. Silvally shimmied along the carpet until his head hovered over the pancakes. He had to admit, they did look great. The steam striking the tip of his beak shifted on his fire memories. Silvally leaned over and nibbled at the edge of the topmost pancake. Blueberry juice splattered across the top of his beak. He licked it off with his tongue.
Slowly, Silvally picked at his dinner. All the while, his mind wandered. Try as he might, he couldn't stop thinking about his encounter with the Xurkitrees and the ley lines they were trapped in. His head pounded. Feelings of anger bubbled up in the back of his mind. He tried to pay attention to the pancakes, but it didn't work. The chains filled his vision until three red eyes stared back at him from his dinner plate.
We're cut from the same cloth, you and I. We're both monstrosities… immortal monstrosities. None of these Pokémon here should mean anything to you!
Silvally shut his eyes, hoping to will the memory away. But that only intensified the illusionary eyes' glow.
Even if you somehow stopped me… you'd end up having to watch as the friends you claim to love so much die one by one until you're left all alone!
That was true, but if Team Radiance stopped Necrozma, he wouldn't have to worry about something like that for a very long time. So, why was he dwelling on this? It wouldn't help anyone, especially not his friends.
And then what will you do, Silvally? Go slink off and spend your existence alone in some cave like the gods you were molded after? Or will the losses prove too heartbreaking? Will you drown in the depths of your own despair… and end your life like I did?
Silvally swallowed hard. The red eyes disappeared. Silvally now found himself thinking back on the previous night. He stared down Shane's dazed, dumbstruck look after he had stolen a kiss. There was something else in his eyes. Silvally realized it was confusion. Possibly a sense of betrayed trust, too. Yet, in the moment, Silvally had ignored that.
"Hey. Shower's all yours, if you want it."
Espy stood across from Silvally, her fur extra-poofy. Silvally cocked an eyebrow. "They've got some kinda hot air jet for drying fur. Almost felt as heavenly as the shower," Espy said with a slight blush.
"Sounds relaxing" Silvally said.
"Yeah. And it's nice to have that glitter out of my fur," Espy said. "That aside, I did try to call Braviary, then Latias." She shook her head. "Neither responded."
"I guess they're still tied up," Silvally said, his gaze falling back toward his dinner plate. "There are pancakes, by the way. You can grab 'em in the kitchen. They're good."
Espy approached the table, a look of concern on her face. "Okay, what's going on? This is a far cry from the cheerful Silvally I've gotten used to," she said.
"It's nothing. I'm just… tired, that's all," Silvally said, nibbling on a piece of pancake.
"Then you'd be heading for the shower, not sitting around and moping," Espy said, her brow furrowed. "C'mon, you know I'm psychic and you're not even making an effort to hide that you're upset about something. Is it the Xurkitrees we rescued?"
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine," Silvally said. Espy shoved his shoulder. His head crest fanned out in surprise. "Hey, what was that for?" he growled.
"For lying to my face," Espy said. "I know I'm not Shane or Tessa, but I'd like to think that, after yesterday, you'd at least extend me the courtesy of thinking I want to help you. C'mon, we're in this together, aren't we?"
Silvally winced. She wasn't wrong. Heck, he was acting a lot like she did to him before they had their talk. "You're right. I'm not being fair. Sorry," Silvally said.
"What's on your mind?" Espy said, sitting down next to him. She had to look up in order to make eye contact.
"A lot, actually. I've been… kind of going over everything that's happened the last couple of days. And it's… concerning," Silvally said.
"So, it is about the Xurkitrees, then?" Espy said.
"They're part of it. I do feel bad about, well, slipping up around them," Silvally said, glowing parts turning blue. "But I'm finding myself stuck on something… something Necrozma said to me the last time we encountered him."
Espy curled her tail around her waist, trying not to think back to that awful event. "Could you be more specific?" she said.
"Remember how he said that, even if we can stop him, it won't change the fact that you're all going to die someday? And that I… probably won't?" Silvally said. Espy nodded. "Yeah, that's what I'm stuck on. Well, that and, uh…" His voice trailed off and his head crest drooped.
"What else?" Espy said.
"I… um…" Silvally winced. He didn't want to go any further, because he knew what he had to say would likely upset Espy. She didn't deserve that, especially since she was trying to help. "You promise not to get mad if I tell you?" he said.
Espy raised a brow, unsure what the problem was. "Err, yeah, okay," she said.
"It was something you told me yesterday. About how I can't help everyone… and that maybe the only reason I'm trying to help is because of how guilty I feel," Silvally said.
"Oh. I see," Espy said, rubbing her forepaws together nervously.
"At the time, I told you that it was on my mind, but I wasn't letting it bother me," Silvally said. "After dwelling on it a bit, though, I think you were completely right."
Espy bit her lip. Silvally's gloomy tone was so familiar. She had heard it several times from friends who she turned away with her dour behavior. Realizing she was dangerously close to doing the same thing to Silvally — and after promising to turn over a new leaf, no less — her ears drooped.
"Silvally, listen. I wasn't—"
"No. It's okay. You had a point," Silvally said. "I shouldn't exist. All the strange looks I got at Sunset Shoals reminded me of that. I've been putting on a bold, uplifting face to hide the fact that I want to stop Necrozma… for selfish reasons." He squeezed his eyes shut. "We're both creations… not Pokémon. We were made in roughly the same way… by the same creator, no less."
"I can't think about Necrozma without recalling the mask getting put on. I want him dead so I can finally put those thoughts to rest," Silvally continued. "Even if the spirits are under control, they flare up whenever Necrozma comes into the conversation." He looked at his looplet. "If I can stop Necrozma, I can finally be at peace… one way or another. So, yeah, I'm selfish."
Espy silently bowed her head, unsure of how to respond. It was such a sharp turnaround from the way Silvally had acted yesterday. Had she really worn him down that much just from one conversation? The thought sent a chill down her spine.
"Hearing that stuff about losing my friends… well, it didn't make me snap, but it definitely made something stir inside me," Silvally said, shifting uncomfortably. "The voices popped up. They latched onto your words and told me I should distance myself from Shane and Tessa. If I wasn't their close friend, I could save myself from future pain."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Espy said.
"Since last night, I've been acting like a complete idiot," Silvally said, looking guilty. "Like… flirting with Shane, then kissing him when he let his guard down."
Espy's ears stuck up in surprise. She remembered Silvally had a few defensive moments when other Pokémon approached Shane at Sunset Shoals, but she didn't expect this to be the reason.
"It was wrong. I shouldn't have done it. He seemed confused— no, he seemed hurt by it. But I didn't care," Silvally said. "I was letting the spirits run the show and, I guess, enjoying the ride. Because it felt great. That look of distress he gave me, though…" His voice trailed off and he shook his head. "And, to make matters worse, Gallian and Zoroark found him sleeping in a bit of an awkward position next to me and they teased us about it. Shane was really upset, but I joked along with them."
Silvally almost slammed his head crest onto the table, but stopped himself at the last second. "I have to apologize, but I don't know what to say," he whispered.
"Wow. That's, uh, a lot to digest," Espy said, hoping to gather her thoughts. She felt like all of this was her fault. Her stubborn, negative attitude had rubbed off on Silvally. He was the one that was always there for his teammates, but now that was in jeopardy. There was also the matter of own slip-up during the performance. Espy was surprised Silvally hadn't called her out on it. She feared that, if she didn't tread carefully, she'd make everything worse.
"I think you're right… you should apologize," Espy continued, scooting closer and putting a forepaw on his back. "As for what you can say? I think the best thing to do is to be honest. I know I haven't, like, been around the entire time you two have been friends, but it seems like you two really forged a connection after the debacle at Tapu Bulu's temple. If you tell Shane what was going through your head, I think he'll understand."
"I don't know," Silvally said, tracing a talon along the carpet. "I betrayed Shane's trust. I took advantage of the fact that he was riding an evolution high to do something stupid."
"You act like Shane hasn't done anything impulsive," Espy said, throwing in a nervous laugh. She regretted it when Silvally winced. "Look. Can I, uh, be frank with you?"
Silvally turned to meet her gaze, then nodded.
"Well, to start with, I'm just as guilty as you are. I mean, you saw what happened on stage. It wasn't a ploy for the crowd, I had wantedthat to happen and got the perfect excuse to do it," Espy said, her shoulders sagging. "It was… a serious moment of weakness, but I couldn't help myself. Not even a day after I said I would try to clean up my act and I gave in to one of my vices. I'm ashamed, but at the same time… I find myself wishing everything was different."
She looked at Silvally. His brow furrowed. "Different like how?" he said.
"Different like… not being stuck with one guy because you slipped up," Espy said, cringing. "The soulmate bond thing is… stupid. It needs to go away. I'm tired of living in fear of getting judged for a stupid decision."
"I agree. It is a lousy system. But we can't change it at the moment," Silvally said, sighing. "Is that all you had to say to me?"
Espy shook her head. "There was something else. And, um, it's pretty selfish on my part, but hear me out before you judge me," Espy said, nervously pawing at the carpet. Silvally raised a skeptical brow, but said nothing. "Um, I'm actually kind of glad you told me about this stuff." She paused, expecting Silvally to get upset, but he remained silent. "It's my fault that you even thought this way. I shouldn't have been so harsh to you."
"At the time, I thought you were, like, a bit too perfect. You change types, you have a ridiculous number of attacks, and you always know what to say to help somebody out," Espy continued. "And you do it all with this unrelentingly hopeful gleam in your eyes. It disgusted me. So, deep down, I was determined to prove it was all an act."
Her ears drooped. She curled her tail around her waist. "Only now, I feel awful about it," Espy said. "Look, Silvally, I can't really speak to the whole immortality thing… but I can tell you one thing. I was wrong." She put a paw on his chest. He flinched. "You're a good Pokémon at heart and I can see that you really want to help others to the best of your abilities. Despite what those voices might tell you… you deserve to have friends that you care about… and ones who care about you in return."
When Silvally didn't respond, Espy took her forepaw off his chest. "You know you don't have to be perfect. I know you were made to be this perfect god killer or whatever… but having flaws isn't the end of the world. It shows you that you still have room to grow," she said. "And, personally speaking, it makes it easier to relate to you." She paused, flinching. "That… probably sounded terrible. My bad."
"The point is… you shouldn't beat yourself up about this," Espy continued. "So, you had a slip-up with Shane. It's not the end of the world. We've all been under a lot of stress. Just tell him what was going through your mind. Heck, blame me if you want to. I'll take full responsibility. If I hadn't been such a bitch to you, I imagine it wouldn't have happened in the first place."
An awkward silence followed. "Okay, this is getting creepy. You gonna say something or am I supposed to keep talking and make a big fool of myself?" Espy said.
"You're not making a fool of yourself," Silvally said. "If I wanted to see that, I'd grab a cup of syrup and dump it on you." Espy hopped to her feet, arching her back up. "Relax, I'm not going to do that," Silvally insisted.
"You have a very strange sense of humor," Espy said, grimacing.
"Perhaps. In any case, you're right. I think I got carried away about all of this." Silvally slumped over, sighing. "Guess I'm not handling the stress as good as I thought."
"It's fine. That's what you've got us for, right?" Espy said. "We're in this together… no matter how many ups and downs."
Silvally's glowing parts turned green. "Heh, couldn't have said it better, myself." Silence followed once again.
Espy brushed her forepaw along the carpet. "Y'know, thinking about it, if we do beat Necrozma, I think the best way to have a clean start would be to stay here in Horizon," she said. "This probably sounds stupid, but I could use someone like you in my life."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Silvally said, a skeptical brow raised.
"Spending the past couple of days with you has made me less cynical. And you're the kind of guy who could hold me accountable. Like, keep me from slipping up and giving in to any of my dumb urges," Espy said. She shook her head. "Err, I think that came out wrong. Forget I said anything."
Silvally titled his head. "Are you asking me to help you?"
Espy nodded. "Something like that. If we can restore everyone, I think it's best I at least go to Paradise and Lively Town to apologize to the people I hurt," she said. "In which case, I'd want you there for moral support."
"Couldn't Shane do that? You seem to really like him," Silvally said.
"I like Shane, yeah, but I think that has to do with his antics more than anything. They bring a smile to my face." Espy's face flushed. "There's also the appearance thing. I have to work on that."
"I see." Silvally bowed his head in thought. After a half-minute, he said, "I'm willing to help you out, provided you do something for me in return."
"What did you have in mind?" Espy asked.
"Assuming we do restore everyone, I want you to help me find a home," Silvally said, drawing a blank look from Espy. "The closest thing I've had to a place to live is the Observatory. But it never really felt like a home. I want to make my own place. Somewhere I can settle down in and rest peacefully, either with you guys or by myself." He looked up at Espy. "So, what do you say, Espeon? Do we have a deal?"
Espy considered the proposal. A smile crept onto her face. She nodded slowly. "I think I can make it work." She stuck her forepaw out. "Oh, and call me Espy."
Silvally leaned over and nuzzled Espy. Her cheeks flushed. "Will do," Silvally said as he got to his feet. "I guess I should go apologize to Shane. Where is he, anyway?"
"Dunno. Think he might've hung back at the beach," Espy said.
"Oh. Then I suppose I'll help myself to a shower after all," Silvally said.
"And I'll grab some pancakes." Espy blinked. "Don't know why I felt the need to announce that."
"I think all that time on stage went to our heads," Silvally said, chuckling.
Espy paused in the doorway. "Well, do me a favor."
"Yeah?"
She smirked at Silvally. "If I try to win our next fight by dancing, slap me."
~Lively Town~
In a flash of orange light, Mega Latios raced through the sky. Lively Town quickly disappeared behind him as he set off to the southeast.
'I don't see why I'm the one stuck doing this. Things are too crazy for me to go on some stupid search and rescue mission in the Grass Continent. What about the Time Gears?'
Latios grimaced. In truth, he knew exactly why he was asked to go the Grass Continent. Aside from his sister and Hoopa, he was the only one who could travel there quickly. Everyone was so focused on the Time Gears, they were all taken aback when Cresselia and Darkrai barged into Expedition Society HQ, both looking exhausted. Cresselia tearfully explained to Team Poképals that Manaphy had gone missing. At which point they turned to Latios, begging him to go look for Manaphy.
He wondered if Latias was okay. His last few attempts to contact her had failed. Latios couldn't get their mental link to work. He knew Ampharos had her working on something important, but did that really mean she had to give him the silent treatment? Or had the work left her so exhausted that Latios couldn't even sense her energy? He really hoped it was the former.
Latios rolled around in midair, unleashing a burst of speed propelling him through the night sky. There wasn't a single cloud out and he could see the sun poking up from the east. He blinked his eyes rapidly. Much as he wanted to go back to sleep, that wouldn't be happening. Latios glanced worriedly at his looplet. Jirachi assured him that he was safe from losing control of his Mega Evolution, but he still wanted to switch back to his base form as soon as he could.
He failed to notice a faint ripple in the air several yards ahead of him, until it erupted into an Ultra Wormhole. Panicking, Latios rolled right. A giant blue and black beam raced past his left wing. Latios stared wide-eyed as a black cloud spiraled out of the portal.
It was only when Latios caught a faint glimpse of a single red eye that he realized exactly what was going on.
'I've gotta get out of here!'
Latios zoomed away, but Necrozma teleported in front of him, third eye glowing brightly. Latios U-turned just in time to dodge chains shooting out from Necrozma's wings.
"Oh, trying to flee, are we?" Necrozma said, licking his lips. "Heeheeheehee! Boy, I hAVe tHe STraNgEsT SEnSe of DéJà vU!"
A blinding flash erupted. An unseen force shoved Necrozma back. Latios dove down, heading for the sea. He tucked his wings in, picking up as much speed as he could muster. Even if the splashdown would hurt, at least he'd be able to hinder Necrozma's movements enough to potentially escape. It was his only way out.
Latias, where are you? This is an emergency! Latios telepathically shouted, trying to awaken his mental link. He was met with no response. Meanwhile, the sea drew closer and closer. Latios channeled psychic energy, readying a bubble to isolate himself from the water.
Necrozma materialized on the water's surface.
"No, that's impossible!" Latios shouted. He couldn't break. He was coming in too fast.
"No one can outrun Necrozma!" he said, launching a black meteor barrage. Latios formed a pink shield, but it couldn't withstand the bombardment. A half-dozen meteors struck him in succession. His Mega Evolution energy drained right out of him, leaving him in a freefall as he reverted to his base form.
Before Latios struck the water, black chains emerged from heart-shaped sigils in the air. Each one speared Latios, digging into his wings and torso. Latios screamed in pain as the chains wrapped around him, tearing through his feathers. Red droplets splattered onto the water's surface.
Necrozma floated up to Latios. He daintily clutched Latios' chin in his wing-claws. "Look at how pathetic you are! Your confidence… your 'training' with your so-called friends in Lively Town… all it took was one glimpse at me for all of it to disappear!" he whispered, grinning. "Heeheeheehee! Deep down… nothing changed. You're still a dirty coward whose first instinct is to run at any sign of trouble. You ran when Latias crashed. You ran when Pokémon started turning to stone. And what good did that do you, hmm?"
"Let me answer that for you," Necrozma said. "It. Did. Nothing!" The winged heart emblem on his chest flashed. "After all this time, you've still failed to realize it. No one can outrun their problems… especially not the gigantic ones your backwards society has created. There is only one fix and that is chaos! The void! It must consume! It must destroy!"
Latios feebly tried to stretch his hands out and claw at Necrozma's face, but Necrozma lowered his head so his third eye was level with Latios.
"WhAt'S tHis? SIlEnT, aRe We?" Necrozma said, third eye flashing. "Heeheeheehee! WhAt a FOol yOu aRE, lAtIOs."
Latios' eyes slowly widened in horror. The chains moved up around his neck.
"Now then, I think it's about time we gave your sister a call, don't you?" Necrozma said, folding his wings over his twitching arms. "After all, there's someone who's just dying to meet her! Heeheeheehee!"
The chains burrowed into Latios' neck. He screamed at the top of his lungs.
Yes, that is Absol from the original PMD game (or the manga, if you prefer that flavor). I think I aged him up a bit compared to both medium. Ah well.
Another guest: it's four episodes, not chapters. And two special episodes. So, we've got time. Assuming I can actually make it to the end. My health has to hold up for that to happen.
SuperOmegaGuest: be careful what you wish for, young one.
ShadowsOfSong: so, uh, no idea if you're going to see this, but hi. You left a review on an older chapter, so I can't really respond to you properly. FFN removes links (including email addresses), but I'm not particularly comfortable sharing my email with a total stranger. If you're seeing this and have caught up, most of your questions have been answered. I can only respond properly to you if you create an account for the site. Sorry!
Anon Omega: it hadn't happened yet, but there is a small one in this chapter. Have fun!
Next time: another Valentine's Day special.