Chapter 190 Fading Color Forest Part 2
Ash, Noel, Victoria, and Mars are trying to navigate their way through the Rhodochrine Tree, and they are on the third floor.
Noel: The total for the light side is 7. The total for the dark side is 10. Eve said Togetic is worth 7. We also know from previous floors that Espeon is 3, Chingling is 2, and Mightyena is 5. There was also an Umbreon on the first floor.
Ash: So all we need is to minus 3 from the Umbral side. That means we need to defeat an Umbreon.
Noel: Togetic was the entire 7, and we had to remove an Umbreon to progress, leaving only a Mismagius. Because the Umbreon on the first floor faced evenly against Espeon, which Eve confirmed to have a value of 3, we know Umbreon also has 3 power.
Mars: That means Mismagius is also 7...
After finishing the third puzzle, they head to the fourth floor.
Noel: The total for the light side is 12. The total for the dark side is 14. We know Togetic was worth 7, and I think we can reasonably conclude by now that values carry over between floors. Mismagius and Togetic were both 7. Espeon was 3.
Ash: This one is quite hard...if we remove the Mismagius, then we have to reduce from 14 to 7...and we have to reduce 5 from the Light side...Espeon is 3, Togetic is 7...that means the Cleffa is 2!
Victoria: So defeat a Mismagius, a Cleffa, and a Togetic.
From the fifth floor to the eighth floor, they are trying to do their maths and they have been working really hard on defeating the Pokemon, with Noel and Mars offering to heal them.
The Fifth Floor:
Noel: The total for the light side is 10. For the dark side, 9. We know from the first floor Umbreon is valued at 3. There are some obvious conclusions to be drawn here.
Since there are 3 Umbreon as dark, and there are Flabebe, Floette, and Florges as light. So they decide to assume that the Floette is 3 and defeat all the Pokemon except for an Umbreon and a Floette.
The Sixth Floor:
Noel: 30 on the light side versus 26 on dark. That's a lot. From what we know of previous floors, Espeon is 3, Floette is 3, Florges is 5, and Chingling is 2.
There are 2 Zweilous as dark, and a Chingling, 2 Floette, 2 Espeon, Florges, and a Granbull. They decide to leave only a Zweilous, a Chingling, and a Granbull, that way they are all 13 in the end.
The Seventh Floor:
Noel: 24 on light, 21 on dark. Everything is new except Zweilous, which was 13.
There are Zweilous, Murkrow, and Houndour as Dark, while Spritzee and two Kadabra are in the light. Ash tries to knock out a Kadabra, and then checks if a Houndour and a Murkrow are enough, and much to their delight, it is, and they manage to get 13 in the end. Spritzee is 2, Kadabra is 11, and both Murkrow and Houndour together are 8.
The Eighth Floor:
Noel: 18 on light, 24 on dark. On the light side, Granbull was 11, Togetic was 7. On the dark side, Houndour was on the previous floor but the numbers make it impossible to know its value for sure. It should be either 3 or 5.
There are Mandibuzz, Houndour, and Drifloon as Dark, while Granbull and Togetic as light. Ash decides to try leaving Togetic with both Houndour and Drifloon, and thus it works.
After reaching the ninth floor, Ash and the others are getting tired.
Mars: Just how high is this place? We have been climbing for more...
Noel: 20 on light versus 31 on dark. I get the feeling that we're near the end. All of the values here are technically unknown, but we can infer relativistic properties based on their evolutions. For the sake of convenience, I'll list the evolutions we've confirmed: For the light side, Cleffa and Chingling were both 2. For the dark side, Mismagius was 7, Mightyena was 5, Mandibuzz was a whopping 17, Umbreon was 3, and Zweilous was 13.
Then they decide to get rid of all the Pokemon except for Hydreigon and Clefable, and in the end, that causes the final ladder to appear.
Ash: I guess we're right about this one...
Victoria: I hope we're reaching the end.
As they climb up the ladder, they are now in another place. There are water and grass around the area.
Noel: This must be the top of the trunk. (Looks at the water) It would look better with color, I guess. Too bad. Whatever caused this should be near here.
Ash: Yeah, let's go...
As they head further, they are blocked by a green wall, much to their surprise.
Ash: What is this?
Noel: There's some kind of barrier in the way? I see. Maybe if Eve had been the one to get up here instead, she could've done something.
Z2: This kind of barrier is made of Zygarde energy. Maybe we can see if we can get rid of this one...
Then both Squishy and Z2 change their forms into the 100% form, much to everyone's surprise.
Victoria: What the...is that Zygarde...
Ash: Yeah, that's Zygarde's Complete form...
But no matter Squishy and Z2 do anything, the barrier won't break, and eventually they are both tired and they are back into their core form.
Mars: I guess it doesn't work?
Squishy: How could this happen? Why couldn't we break the barrier since it is made of our energy?
Just then, they hear a cry and they look up to see an Yveltal rushing past.
Noel: Was that-
Heather: COMING THROUGH!
Just then, they also spot Heather trying to chase after Yveltal, but she is blocked by the barrier.
Heather: GRRRRRR! Now that stupid thing is just going to heal up again! I'm getting REALLY sick of all these STUPID barriers! (Turns to the others) That Yveltal is eating the color right out from the forest! And its roost is right up here, and it keeps going back there to recover and I can't GET to it because more and more of these STUPID walls keep appearing! It was hard enough to find a way in the first time, and now the exits keep sealing!
Just then, they can feel the tree shaking, and Heather is also annoyed.
Heather: And THAT keeps happening! I don't even know what's causing that, but I don't think we want to stay to find out! Salamence is tired and the barrier is closing in- let me get you guys out of here!
Ash: I also have a Salamence, I'll get Victoria and Noel while you take Mars, Heather.
Noel: ...No, that's okay.
Heather: What?! What do you mean "That's okay"?!
Noel: I'll stay. If I find out what it is, at least I can be useful.
Heather: You won't be useful if it knocks you out!
Ash: Yeah! Yveltal has the power to change you into a stone!
Noel: I can take the risk.
Heather: What- UGGGH, everything is SO annoying! Fine, take a dirt nap for all I care! Ash, I'm at least getting YOU out of here so you can figure out what's up with this barrier and FIX IT!
Ash: Don't worry, and Noel! Please be careful! Stay hidden from Yveltal's sight or do not get close to where he is!
Heather: Hang on tight- it's take-off time!
Then Ash, Victoria, Mars, and Heather all fly away with Salamence as they are back outside the tree. Eve, Shelly, and Lumi are glad to see them safe.
Heather: Okay, I'm going back for Noel! Fixtheproblemokaythanksbye! (Flies away)
Lumi: Wait, what was that? Where's Noel?
Victoria: He stayed on top of the tree.
Lumi: He stayed at the top?! What is he thinking?!
Eve: Trying to rescue him on foot is likely a waste. A barrier has appeared at the entrance of the tree as well, so we can't even get in anymore. Whatever that is, it's spreading and fortifying itself quickly.
Lumi: So what do we do? We can't just wait here!
Shelly: Um- Um, I have an idea actually?
Lumi: Tell us, tell us!
Shelly: Well, there's an Yveltal, right? And when I was at the roots of the tree, there were all these Z-Cells...And doesn't the barrier kind of look like them too?
Eve: Where are you going with this?
Shelly: I don't really know- but I remembered reading about an old myth, about a giant tree, an Yveltal, and a snake gnawing at its roots... Um, what I'm saying is- What if we used a Zygarde? In the myth, I think the snake attacked the bird- So maybe a snake-like Zygarde could deliver an attack that would break through the barriers once and for all!
Eve: An interesting theory. I don't know if there's any use in putting stock in myths, but... Zygarde's Core Enforcer attack is known to eliminate special properties of its target. If we could get our hands on a 100% Zygarde, I think it's reasonable to assume it would be able to break through.
Ash: We've tried, but it is no use.
Shelly: Wait, seriously?
Squishy: (Pops out of the bag) Our Core Enforcer doesn't work on those barriers...but I have another theory. (Turns to Ash) Besides the two of us, there is another Zygarde that you caught that is from this region, right? Maybe if you manage to get that one into 100% form, then maybe you can break the barrier with that.
Lumi: Yeah. I saw Ash collecting cells, but that would take a whole 100! We'll never get that many in time!
Shelly: Maybe, since all these Pokémon are spawning from the New World, one will just appear?
Eve: That would be too convenient.
Lumi: But it's not impossible! A lot of too-convenient things have happened lately, haven't they?
Eve: ...I certainly can't deny that.
Shelly: We'll keep doing what we can here, but Ash, you should keep gathering Z-Cells and chasing down Anomalies! As soon as you get a 100% Zygarde, bring it here right away! We'll make sure we save Noel no matter what!
Lumi: That's the plan then! I know it seems daunting, but if anyone can do it, it's you, Ash!
Victoria: So how many cells do you have right now?
Ash: (Checks the Gather Cube) 63. There are 37 more to find. I will also tell everything to Mom, hoping that she can help us out.
After that's done, they all head back to the house, and Ash tells Delia and the others about the news, and the most shocked ones are those from Kalos.
Serena: Are you serious? You guys left Noel at the tree with Yveltal? Did you forget what happened to Pikachu last time?
Ash: I was also worried! Noel refuses to leave the place, and we still need 37 Zygarde cells to find.
Radomus: I don't know what Noel is thinking, but all we can do right now is trust him. I'm sure he will be fine.
Delia: If you say so...
Then they decide to take more rest, and Ash feels really awful, not only they have a Rayquaza to find, but Zygarde's cells to find as well.
Ash is not going to get Xerneas and Yveltal right now. But there are only a few more Legendaries left. I must say only 10 more left and the Legendary Sidequests are done. I hope you like this chapter.
