Chapter 124 Victory Road Part 5

After Ruby Cave, they decide to try the Sapphire Cave, which is basically an Ice Puzzle. After crossing the puzzle, they are going to the next room to grab the Sapphire Stars, but they are surprised to see Cal there, and he is using Magmortar to defeat Blake's final Pokemon.

Cal: Enough, Blake. It's over, and you've lost.

Blake: Hah. Well, if little Callie-Wallie isn't all grown up. He finally learned to beat trainers with a team full of type advantages! It only took you, like, what? Ten years? More?

Cal: Say what you will. It's time for you to let this all go, and go home.

Blake: What're you gonna do if I don't, tell Daddy? You gonna say he should spank me? The old man kicked it; I don't need you telling me what to do in his stead unless you wanna follow through to his end too.

Cal: I'm not interested in your commentary. Whine all you want. I'll be outside. There's only one exit. As soon as you're done pitching your fit, I'm taking you back. By force or otherwise. (Leaves)

Blake: Awwwwh, I'm so scawed! Shut the fuck up. You don't even know what force is, bro! People like you are all talk and no action. (Walks forward) If you're so set on doing something, come back here and do it! Don't just turn your backside and ignore me. (Cal is out of his sight) You really are just like him. (Notices Ash and the others) And what do YOU want?

Ash: Maybe revenge for what you're doing with your Sandslash's Icicle Crash?

Much to their surprise, a Healing Shard appears besides Blake.

Blake: ...Hah, is that what I think it is? An extra life, huh. Don't mind if I do. (Heals his Pokemon) How convenient. His team is still worn out from the battle, too. I can rip him to shreds easily now. You gonna try and get in my way?

Ash: What if I am?

Blake: Then I just have to take you out first!

Then Ash battles Blake as he goes for Starmie first. Ash goes for Seperior for the first battle and goes for Leaf Storm, Starmie decides to go with Ice Beam to block the attack, and it sets up a Reflect, trying to raise the Defenses. But the Leaf Storm only powers up Serperior as it goes for another one, knocking Starmie out of the battle. The second Pokemon is Mamoswine, and it uses Ice Shard to knock Serperior out. The next Pokemon for Ash is Swampert, and both of them go for Earthquake to make the field create Spikes, and Swampert finishes off the Mamoswine with the Muddy Water.

The third Pokemon is Weavile, and it goes for Brick Break and Knock Off to defeat Weavile, so Ash goes for Mienshao for this battle. Mienshao goes for Karate Chop, which deals four times super effective, and then it goes for High Jump Kick, even though it is blocked by Icicle Crash, but it still hits Weavile in the end and knocks it out. The fourth Pokemon is Gyarados, and it goes for Waterfall and Earthquake, knocking out Mienshao. Ash goes for Galvantula next, and has is use Sticky Web to set the field, and dodge the Stone Edge to deliver the Electro Web, knocking the Gyarados out.

The fifth Pokemon is Alolan Sandslash, the same one that gave them a lot of trouble, and it defeats Galvantula with Iron Head and Earthquake. Ash goes for Charizard and goes for the Mega Evolution Y, causing the giant sun and uses Heat Wave to knock the Pokemon out. The final Pokemon is Walrein. Walrein goes for Yawn, trying to get Charizard to sleep, and then it keeps using Waterfall, with the Sun still on, Waterfall is not doing a lot of damage. Once Charizard wakes up, it goes for Fire Spin and Thunder Punch, knocking the Walrein out.

Blake: (Curses as he lost the battle, and then looks around) So, where's that 'assistance' she promised? You know? I may be a jerk sometimes, but I'm not completely stupid. Or that's what I'd say, if I hadn't actually believed that that woman would try and help. "Wait in the crystal branches," she said. "Just buy more time," she said. Yeah, right. I'm not surprised, just annoyed. I don't know what she's doing, spending so much time tinkering on those machines... But one thing is for sure: She wants to win, But she intends to win alone. Everyone else is just noob trash to be KO'd.

Ash: Glad to see you finally know the whole truth, Solaris thinks otherwise and he is killed because of that. If he were the leader, he would have sent assistance.

Blake: I've known this isn't going to work for a while- since you showed up to Ametrine, in fact. Sunken cost really is like that though. Leave too early, and they'll pull you back and hold you under. I know you probably hate me too or whatever, and that's fine. But I'm counting on you to end this before they end me. Take your time if you want, fam. I'll let "Daddy" drag me home for now.

Then Blake leaves, and Ash knows that he is not going to be their problem with Team Meteor, so they quickly pick up the Sapphire Stars and leave the place.


When they get to the Emerald Cave, as they activate the Green Crystal, another Spirit Shackle appears.

Fern: Hmph. Deflecting a surprise attack with a spontaneously transforming crystal... Cheap and lucky as always.

Ash and the others are groaning, Ash was right, Fern is still alive, and that stupid brat isn't going to give up attacking them.

Fern: I figured you'd eventually show your face around here. Like the slimy worm you are, you always seem to come out of the woodwork somehow. And how? You know, that attack you did up there with the falling spire was a new low of cowardice. You just weasel around everything without a care... Because no one's bothered to put you in your place. You think you have some kind of immunity? You think you're better than us? I doubt you even see the rest of us as human. Won't even deny it. And STILL you don't say anything. Ash, let me tell you something. When we first met, I thought you were all right. A little ignorant, a little presumptuous, and way out of your league... But who isn't, these days? I thought you might be good underneath it all. It sickens me just how wrong I was. Decidueye. If Ash's so determined to run around pointlessly, let's give them something to run from.

Ash: Guys, just ignore what Fern is saying, let's do our job and get to the cave where the Emerald Crystal is. He is just a loser with a big ego.

Serena: Kinda surprised to hear you say that, but I guess you're right. All we have here are Strength Puzzles.

Lillie: It should be easy compared to the others.

After moving some boulders, they manage to activate the second Green Crystal, and the rocks blocked Fern's attack.

Fern: Just what do you think you're still doing? You think you can escape me with those kinds of bullshit moves? I'll see you put into the dirt.

Then they continue to move another boulder to activate another crystal.

Fern: Stop it! What the hell are you made of?! Why is it that you come out on top no matter what? It's not just unnatural, it's creepy.

Ash: Or maybe it is because you thought you were on top, that's why you couldn't know what we've been through.

After activating the last crystal, Fern is enough with them continuing to dodge and stop his Decidueye.

Fern: To say you're inhuman would be too much of a compliment. You're like that woman, Hollow and eerie. Empty of anything but destruction... No joke, you're even worse than she is. The only difference is that you pretend that everything you're doing is for some kind of bullshit moral cause. At least she doesn't hide her selfish intentions. You're honestly disgusting... I can't stay around you anymore. If I never saw you again, it would be too soon.

Ash and the others are relieved to know that Fern has left.

Serena: Not talking and waiting patiently really gets on my nerves...especially since that brat...

Lillie: I wonder why Rini would have a brother like him...

Ash: No matter, let's get the Emerald Stars and get out of here.

The other two girls nod as they quickly get the Emerald Crystals and leave the place, and the only place left is the Amethyst Cave. But much to their surprise, they see Radomus and Lin's Gardevoir.

Ash: Dad!

Radomus: Ash, what are you doing here?

Ash: That's what I'm going to ask you.

Radomus: I was trying to persuade this Gardevoir. (Turns back to Gardevoir) Everything will be quite all right. Just come to me, and we can quit this place. As before, we can leave everything behind. It will be over soon enough regardless. Won't you stay with me?

Then the Gardevoir floats down from above, much to their surprise.

Radomus: There you go, moon drop. Everything is okay. (Stares at the Gardevoir) You can't communicate, can you? Just what have they... Or rather, what has she done to you... It was always supposed to be better than this.

Just then, much to their shock, Gardevoir turns to Ash and she is going to create the void. But Radomus notices it and quickly pushes out of the way, causing him to be sucked into the black hole.

Ash: Dad!

Radomus: I'm sorry, Ash...Zi- (Disappears)

And they realize that the Gardevoir is going to suck them into the black hole, so they have to run. Fortunately, the Purple Crystals that were no use actually stops the Black Hole, causing the Gardevoir to create some more. After Serena reaches the end of the cave, Lillie is about to get sucked by the Black hole, but Ash quickly pushes her out of the way.

Serena/Lillie: Ash!

Ash closes his eyes as he thought it is over for him, but much to his surprise, he hears Luna's voice.

Luna: To those who are afraid of the dark, You are wrong. It is not the darkness you fear. It is the feelings you have within it. Whether that is loneliness, The uncertainty of not knowing what could lie just beyond your reach, Or the misery of being stuck with the one person whom you hate most in this whole wide world... These things belong to you. Darkness is not to blame, should you find them there. They were always with you anyway. Everyone is always with you. Do not fear, hero of this chapter. I shall see to it that the Master is cared for here, too. But this door is closed to you. It is not yours to visit any longer. Be at peace, and try again what you know you must.

Then for some reason, Ash is teleported back to the beginning where his father was sucked into the black hole, and he tries to dodge the Gardevoir again, and this time they manage to flee into the next cave.

Serena: (Hugs Ash with Lillie) We thought we're going to lose you again...

Lillie: Don't you try scaring us again...

Ash: I'm sorry...

Serena: But what about your father? What is going to happen to him?

Ash: In the void, I heard Luna's voice, she told me that my Dad is cared for in the void. So I guess I should trust Luna to take care of him...for now, we have Lin to stop.

The two girls nod as they quickly get the Amethyst Stars and leave the place.


And I'll end the chapter right here, the Victory Road is about to end, but there are still more in the next chapter. I hope you like this chapter.