23- One Shall Fall.

"And it was written, in the Covenant of Primus, that when the 47 spheres align, a perpetual conflict will culminate upon a world forged from chaos. And the weak shall perish in the shadow of a rising darkness." Optimus told as he was reading something on the screen.

"No skies raining fire?" Moonracer said sarcastically.

"Goes without say. It is a doom prophecy after all." Elita pointed out.

"I say it's a load of hooey." Wheeljack remarked.

"I'd always assumed the ancients were referring to our home planet. But being that Cybertron has been dark for eons." Ratchet said.

"And considering what has befallen this planet since Galvatron's return the first time." Optimus continued.

"Whoa whoa whoa, we've known about these superstitions for ages and never gave them a second thought." Sideswipe defended.

"Why all the ominous rumblings now?" Hot Rod asked.

"Because the planetary alignment to which the prophecy refers is nearly upon us." Optimus answered.

"And it would seem its endpoint is Earth." Elita said showing the planets on the screen.

"Uh…crazy coincidence." Sideswipe laughed nervous. "Right?"

"Seriously kid, you call something of that caliber a coincidence?" Warpath corrected him.

"How long are we talking?" Arcee asked.

"A few days, at most." Ratchet answered.

"However, unsettling this revelation may be, I am more concerned about those who might believe that the prophecy speaks to them alone." Optimus ended, referring to a certain rival of him.

Meanwhile, while it was navigating between space, at the Nemesis's bridge…

"I did not seek out the blood of Unicron to simply keep my spark aflame, but to rule undead armies and conquer worlds. And to accomplish that I require more than this mere sliver which lies within me. So, where is my dark energon?!" Galvatron shouted at Knock Out.

"Out there, lord Galvatron, just waiting for you to reach out and pluck it." Knock Out answered, making Galvatron to look at him with an annoyed face. "But you shouldn't push yourself so hard. You've had setbacks, you were in stasis."

Galvatron grabbed him and hold him in the air. "Precisely why I must make up for lost time! I can see the future, vividly. But I must ensure its outcome."

Galvatron saw himself, glowing in purple, standing above another cybertronian, with his sword ready to strike while a volcano erupted behind him.

"For I am the rising darkness of which the prophecy speaks."

Time later, the gang was now at the base, looking some pictures on the computer.

"So, what do you think?" Clemont asked as the screen showed a picture of something which resembled Area 51.

"It's only a research facility, nothing suspicious. Pass." Tracey answered.

The next image showed something similar to an UFO in front of a hurricane.

"Nah-ah, just a hat being carried by the wind." Max identified.

They passed next to the image of a classic alien outside a window.

"Oh please, is just a kid in a costume making a joke." Misty immediately said.

The next one showed two UFO-like things flying above two mountains.

"Simple, two Drifblim." Dawn recognized.

"Piplup." Her pokémon nodded.

Clemont scrolled down to another alien spotted in the woods.

"Nope, surely a Trevenant." Serena reassured.

"Wait, hold it." Ash said when they saw a picture of a familiar Autobot vehicle form. "The camera sure loves Bee."

"What can you do? The paparazzi always get the photos they want." May opined.

"And if they can't, they create their own." Ritchie added.

"Pika pi." Sparky said supporting him.

"Wait. Is that Bumblebee?" Ratchet called.

"On a conspiracy website, where people post evidence about possible close encounters. But they are all false, I think." Bonnie explained.

"I don't understand what's with that all about little green men. We already knew about extraterrestrial life when the Deoxys arrived to Earth." Max opined.

"But we have it under control, Ratchet." Clemont reassured. "We just scrub and replace Bee with…"

Clemont put a picture of a funny Meowth dressed like an astronaut.

"Mars Meowth says, take me to your feeder." The image replayed.

That was enough to make Ratchet laugh, which caught everyone's attention. And was already late for Ratchet to pretend he didn't.

"Ratchet actually laughed?" May asked in disbelief.

"Of course he does." Clemont defended.

"But this is the first time we bare witness when he laughs about something funny." Max explained.

"Do you think it could work as well with Optimus?" Ritchie suggested.

"There is nothing wrong with trying." Serena encouraged.

"Um, Optimus, you wanna see something funny?" Ash called.

"No." He simply answered still looking at the screen.

"Pika pi?"

"Pi piplup?"

"Optimus and I are a little busy here right now." Elita explained as she joined Optimus.

"Oh, right." Bonnie lamented.

"Dedenne." Her pokémon pal said trying to cheer her up.

"Don't take it personally, Primes are built that way." Moon reassured her.

"Never seen Optimus laugh, cry or lose his cool." Warpath added.

"While Optimus certainly keeps his emotions in check, Elita and I've known him far longer than any of you have. And he was different before he was made a Prime." Ratchet revealed.

"Optimus wasn't always a Prime?" Misty asked surprised.

"On Cybertron one isn't born into greatness, rather one must earn it."

"When we met the Autobots the first time, Optimus' name was Orion Pax." Ritchie told her.

"So, different how? Like the kind of guy who thinks he is right but actually he's doing wrong?" Dawn asked.

"No no. Optimus was more like…Ash." Ratchet answered.

That caught him off guard. "What? Are you sure?"

"That's what I told you the first time we talked, remember?" Hot Rod reminded.

"I don't find it surprising. Ash is really a special boy." Serena said looking at him, a little red.

Suddenly, someone contacted them. It was Ranger Solana.

"Prime, there has been some recent tech heists for a while. We figured it was Team Alien on account of their stealth tactics, until moments ago, when a security feed at the Kasado City safe storage captured this." Solana reported before showing them an image of a very familiar Decepticon.

"Soundblaster." Tracey recognized.

"My big brother can replace that with a funny Meowth." Bonnie added.

"The Decepticon without face made off with a cutting-edge base conductor. Here's a list of everything else we've confirmed stolen to date." Solana continued before showing it to them.

"Plasma injector, neutron shield, tesseract…" Ratchet saw. "There is only one thing missing if they are intending to build…"

In the Nemesis's bridge…

"The Decepticon space bridge 2.0 is nearly ready to launch. All we require is…" Knock Out showed at the screen when Soundblaster showed on his own screen an object. "What Soundblaster said: an ample power source."

"This one lies within a highly fortified location, by human standards. I could tunnel in." Airachnid suggested.

"The time of prophecy is nearly upon us!" Galvatron shouted, alarming both Airachnid and Knock Out, who looked each other. "We can no longer afford stealth."

Sometime later, the Autobot base received another transmission.

"Prime, the Cons really stepped in at this time. They hit a military lab not far from Jubilife City. The soldiers and their pokémon can contain them until your team arrive."

"Ranger Kellyn, I fear that Galvatron's desperation may be at its zenith, and you know that I cannot condone even a single human or pokémon casualty." Optimus declared.

Kellyn nodded before he talked to his communicator. "This is pokémon ranger Kellyn, evacuate all personnel immediately."

On the military base, the soldiers and their pokémon were holding their ground until they received the order.

"Retreat!" A soldier ordered to the others.

Then some Decepticon tanks came from the smoke and covered some heavy troops who were carrying the power source. Then a ground bridge appeared and the Autobots came out, firing at them. A squadron of air Vehicons also joined them, but the Autobots stood their ground. At the same time, in the Nemesis's bridge…

"Lord Galvatron, package secured, but the Autobots have arrived." One of the Decepticons reported.

Galvatron groaned mad. "Prepare the warship for rendezvous, the package will be ready for pickup." He said leaving the bridge.

Galvatron exited the ship and changed to vehicle form, flying toward the conflict was happening. In a nearby route without people, Bumblebee was with Max.

"Bumblebee, the team may require backup. They're 3 clicks north from your current position, just on the highway. If you drop Max at the exit ramp, I can bridge him back to base from there." Ratchet reported.

"(I'm sorry Max, but the duty calls me.)"

"It's okay Bee. We'll go racing another time." Max reassured.

Galvatron continued his way to the objective, but right below him he spotted Bumblebee going at the same direction.

"Well well, a foolish scout astray from the ranks."

Galvatron started to fire at him. Bumblebee managed to dodge the shots, except one, who stunned Bee with purple electricity. But Bee seemed unharmed, and Galvatron continued his way.

"(That was close. Max, are you okay?)" Bee asked, but he only saw his hand falling to the floor.

Meanwhile, the other Autobots finished with the last Decepticons. Right in that moment, Galvatron arrived and transformed, landing in front of his rival.

"Optimus."

"Galvatron, do you not see the folly in trying to force a prophecy to fruition?"

"Why leave matters to fate if one can forge one's own destiny? Ah, speaking of fate."

Everyone saw behind to see Bumblebee coming with Max on his hands with their eyes closed, but he wasn't looking good. He showed sad eyes, begging for help from his team. Even Optimus was shocked by seeing the little one in bad condition.

"Max!" Moonracer said taking him on her arms.

"He's breathing, barely." Hot Rod observed.

"Ah, it would seem I swatted a bee and squashed a bug." Galvatron mocked with an evil smile.

That angered Bee, who pulled out his weapons.

"(You're going to pay for that, Galvatron!)"

"Bee, no!" Sideswipe said holding him.

"Don't lose yourself, kid!" Wheeljack insisted helping Sideswipe.

Optimus looked back at Galvatron, who challenged him with his look as he stood next to the power source.

"Ratchet, bridge us back now!" Optimus ordered.

"We must have an Autobot down." Ratchet deduced before opening the ground bridge.

"Arcee, Moonracer, Sideswipe, Hot Rod, help Bumblebee to attend Max." Elita instructed.

The group went through the ground bridge. In that moment, the Nemesis appeared and descended. When Galvatron looked back again, Optimus, Elita, Warpath and Wheeljack were gone and the ground bridge closed, so he simply went to the elevator, with the power source. Meanwhile, everyone at base waited for the injured one at base, but when they saw Moonracer carrying Max on her hands, everyone was in shock, especially his older sister.

She gasped in horror before running at them. "Max!"

"No." Ash added.

"What happened?"

"Galvatron." Sideswipe answered mad.

"Quickly, into my laboratory." Ratchet immediately ordered.

As the Nemesis took flight, Optimus, Elita, Wheeljack and Warpath managed to climb on one of its wings. In base, Max laid on a medical berth, with May next to him worried grabbing his hand, the same as worried as everyone.

"He's going to make it, May. I'm sure." Clemont told her putting a hand on her shoulder, trying to tranquilize her.

"Are you sure, big brother?" Bonnie asked not very sure.

"Max isn't responding. We must run diagnostics of his assemblage…eh, vital statistics. Arg, my tools, they're all wrong!" Ratchet exclaimed throwing his tools.

"(This is all my fault.)"

"Don't say that, Bee. It could had been any of us." Sideswipe said putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Ash, we may need your mom to help us with this."

"Good idea, Serena." Ash nodded pulling out his phone.

"Your mother may have been taking class for health support, but does she know anything about the effects of energon on a human body?" Ratchet asked.

"Do you know anything about the human body?!" May retorted him, shocking him.

"Mom, it's urgent. We need your experience." Ash started to speak to the phone.

"The weak will perish." Ratchet recited at looking at Max. "Be strong, Max."

At the same time, back to the Nemesis…

"The power source will be rigged in no time, lord Galvatron. We are nearly at the construction site." Knock Out informed.

"Nearly isn't good enough. The spheres are aligning, I must not miss my moment to…" Galvatron was saying, until he had a vision.

On his vision, he saw a weird planet, also a cybertronian face with purple eyes and an active volcano, turning purple. Also, his eyes turned purple.

"Lord Galvatron, are you alright?" Knock Out asked.

"Yet again, it is as if I can hear Unicron's thoughts." Galvatron proclaimed.

"Unicron, the Chaos Bringer?" Airachnid asked confused.

"They said dark energon is his blood." Knock Out told in a spooky way. "He, whatever."

"Complete the space bridge. There is something I must attend to." Galvatron said leaving the bridge.

"Does he seem to be losing it?" Knock Out asked.

"A bit." Airachnid agreed.

Moments later, the Autobot ground bridge opened and Delia passed through it on her car.

"Ash, come and help me! Grab the bag." Delia instructed as she ran over to Max while Clemont was checking his vitals.

"I don't know anything about medicine, but this surely doesn't look good." He observed.

Ratchet was also scanning him. "Measuring the extent of the absorption should determine the proper course of treatment."

"If we don't get Max stabilized now, he will not leave this table alive! Do you understand me?" Delia said, causing Ratchet to look her with surprise.

"Is there something we can do to help him?" Misty offered.

"Actually yes. Does any of you have a pokémon with recovering abilities?"

Then Misty gasped, realizing something. "Corsola has Recover. Do you think it could be used to help him?"

"Possibly. We also need ice to put it on his head in order to slow down any possible infection."

"My Marill can provide water." Tracey offered.

"And Piplup can freeze it to make the ice." Dawn followed.

Tracey summoned Marill, and both pokémon combined Water Gun and Ice Beam to make some pieces of ice which next they put on Max's head. Misty also pulled out her Corsola and asked him to use Recover on Max. The procedure seemed to help him, but not much. Being the most worried of all the present ones, Bee punched the wall hard with his fist in anger.

"(Curse you, Galvatron!)"

Arcee reacted grabbing him by the shoulders and shoving him against the wall. "Bee, listen. You think I don't know how it feels to watch a partner…harmed? Revenge won't help Max right now. You need to keep your emotions in check."

Bee looked at them before he clutched his head. "(Scrap.)"

Inside the cargo vault of the Nemesis, a couple of guards were guarding the power source, until they heard a clanging noise. Then, Warpath came down and hit one with his hammer, other tried to attack him, but Wheeljack tackled him and disposed of him with his swords. Optimus jumped above other and finished him with his sword, followed by Elita, who shot at the last one, making him fell out of the platform.

"Ratchet, how is Max?" Optimus called to base.

"It is too soon to know."

"He's in good hands."

"Not mine, Elita. Curse my cybertronian pride, we've accepted these humans into our lives yet I bother to learn so little of their science or medicine."

"Pull yourself together, old friend. Max needs you."

"And we have grown to need all of them."

"Lock on to my coordinates and activate the ground bridge." Optimus instructed as he saw Warpath and Wheeljack carrying the power source.

"Ready." Warpath signaled before the portal appeared next to them.

"Elita, you, Warpath and Wheeljack return to base. There is something I must do." Optimus said.

"Really? What?"

"I have been foolish not to see what history has proven, over and over again: that Autobots and Decepticons will never mend their ways. If there can be no diplomatic solution to this perpetual conflict, then I must not allow more darkness to fall upon this or any planet. Galvatron must be destroyed."

Elita understood what her sparkmate was referring to. "Be safe." She told him before heading for the ground bridge helping Warpath and Wheeljack with the power source.

"Till all are one."

The planets were almost completely aligned, with a solar eclipse almost formed at his position. Moments later, Optimus was walking through the Nemesis's corridors, encountering lots of Decepticon soldiers on his way.

"I have come for Galvatron, and him alone." Optimus said pulling out his cannons. "Stand down and be spared."

But the Decepticons didn't listened and fired at him, so Optimus had no choice but to eliminate all foes he found on his way. At the same time, Galvatron arrived to the volcano of Cinnabar Island, transformed and landed in front of it. The volcano was active, but more that it was supposed to, so the local population was being evacuated, and also the water type pokémon which lived close to the area started to swing away.

"The flaming mountain in my visions. As if it summoned me here, guided me! This is where I am to position my space bridge, the place from whence I am to harvest dark energon."

"Galvatron! I am here, on your ship! Come and face me!" Optimus called, using the com-link of a dead Vehicon.

"The place at which I am to defeat the last of the Primes." Galvatron said before he opened his com-link. "Hear this! Any Decepticon who lays a hand at Optimus Prime will answer to me! Soundblaster, lock on to my coordinates, and lead my opponent to his destiny."

Back at the Autobot base, Elita One, Warpath and Wheeljack returned with the rest, which were still focused on Max's condition.

"This isn't good: despite the method's effects, Max's vitals are getting worse." Clemont observed.

"There must be other thing we can do. A way to give him a boost." Bonnie suggested.

"Mom, could Pikachu's electric attacks help him somehow?"

"Maybe, it may cause him the same effect as a defibrillator if they use a little of their electricity." Delia deduced.

"If that can help him to get better, I am willing to try it." May said in despair.

"Then let's do it, buddy. Use Thunderbolt, but only weaker as you usually do." Ash instructed.

"You too, Sparky. Perform it with Thunder Shock." Ritchie supported.

"Pika." Both Pikachu nodded before they jumped on Max and used their tail to canalize electricity to his chest.

After the electric shock, it seemed like Max's vitals improved, but only a few seconds before turning as before.

"One more time." Ash suggested.

And they did it, but with the same result.

"It isn't working. Nothing works. Please Arceus, tell us what exactly is happening to my brother!" May begged, starting to drop tears.

"Kids, help me get Max to the car. He's going to the emergency room." Delia decided.

"Ms. Ketchum, your doctors won't be able to comprehend what's afflicting Max. Not without a decade of study." Ratchet objected.

"I don't have time to argue."

"The effects of an energon blast on an Autobot can be devastating enough, but this is a human. I'm not getting any readings." Ratchet analyzed again.

"Then what is affecting him?" Misty asked.

Then Ratchet understood. "How could I not have seen this? Max has been infected with dark energon."

That shocked everyone. At the same time, Optimus traveled by ground bridge to Cinnabar Island to encounter Galvatron, waiting for him.

"Galvatron, today you answer for your crimes against Cybertron and against Earth. One shall stand…"

"…and one shall fall. You, Optimus Prime!"

And both rivals let out battle cries as they charged to each other, ready to start the fight. Meanwhile, at base, Ratchet was scanning Max again.

"Are you saying that the same thing that Galvatron used to create Decepticon zombies is the same thing that's causing Max to be ill?" Bonnie asked in disbelief.

"You said Galvatron hit Bee with one of his lasers, right?" Dawn reminded.

"That's what Bee witnessed." Wheeljack confirmed.

"And knowing that Galvatron is infused with it, it could probably make sense." Tracey added.

"If dark energon is devouring Max from the inside out, we must expel it, and fast. The only possible way I know. I need energon!" Ratchet said grabbing an empty energon canister.

"Wait. You said energon was devastating to both humans and pokémon." Misty reminded.

"Under normal circumstances, quite. But I am relying upon the dark matter currently invading his body to meet it head-on."

"That sounds highly risky." Delia objected.

"But that could be our only chance to save him." Clemont defended.

"What do you say, May?" Serena asked.

"Giving the actual situation my brother is passing, I am willing to try anything."

Back to Cinnabar Island, both rivals hit each other's face. After falling backwards, Optimus charged at Galvatron again, as he fired his fusion cannon, but Optimus pushed it aside to evade the shot and tried to shot at Galvatron with his own, but Galvatron did the same. They continued doing the same until both weapons faced each other and fired. The shockwave sent them backwards across the battlefield. Optimus charged at Galvatron again, who fired at him again, but this time Optimus used his sword to deflect the shots until he jumped at him, but Galvatron blocked him with his own sword.

"Your defeat here was foreseen by the ancients. What was it they wrote? The weak shall perish?" Galvatron provoked.

"Do not believe everything you read." Optimus replied.

Both rivals started a sword duel, blocking the other's attacks and try to strike when they could. At base, Max's vital were now at critical level, but Ratchet was already extracting energon from Bumblebee's arm, who offered himself as a donor. Once it was done, he connected the canister to the medical chamber.

"I need him over here! Now!" Ratchet instructed.

Ash and Clemont pushed Max's medical berth into the chamber while Ratchet prepared it.

"Please Arceus, make this work." May pleaded.

"It will, May. Have faith." Serena reassured her.

"For Primus's shake, make this work." Ratchet said to himself as he pulled the lever.

The chamber started to shine, more and more until it flashed and covered the entire room, forcing everyone to cover their eyes. Once it ended, everyone got inside to check how Max was. Finally, he started to open his eyes.

"Pulse rate is stabilizing." Delia reported with a smile on her face.

"May? Bee?" Max said.

"Thank Arceus you're alright." His sister said as she hug him dropping tears of happiness.

"(I'm glad you're okay.)"

The gang and their pokémon cheered happy.

"Optimus, we did it. Max is back with us." Elita informed him.

Back with his battle with his rival, Optimus pushed back Galvatron with more strength, and although he received a punch on the face followed by a hit from Galvatron's gladiator bowler, he landed well on the ground before changing to vehicle form and charge against his rival. Galvatron try to fire at him, but Optimus' speed allowed him to dodge the shots and approach Galvatron until he smashed him, throwing him off a cliff. Next, he returned to robot form and landed above him, pressing his tires against his face, making him roar in pain. Galvatron pushed Optimus aside, but he recovered immediately while Galvatron had now an ugly mark on his face, making him unable to see. Optimus took the chance and punched him hard constantly on the face, making him leak dark energon with each hit. Optimus let out a battle cry as he hit Galvatron with an uppercut, sending him to the ground hard. Now Galvatron was too weak to fight, even to stand up. Optimus advanced at him, with his sword ready.

"My destiny." Galvatron said, trying to get back on his feet, but Optimus pushed him against the ground with his foot. "This isn't how it's supposed to end."

"On the contrary, Galvatron." Optimus said, as he readied his sword for the final strike. "I could not have allowed this to end otherwise."

Now Galvatron was truly shocked in fear, not believing that this was going to be his end. But then, in that moment, the same as Optimus was going to end it once and for all, the volcano started to erupt, in purple color. Surprisingly, Galvatron managed to grab Optimus's sword with both hands before he could reach his head. Galvatron opened his eyes, revealing that they were glowing purple, the same as some parts of his body. Meanwhile, at base…

"You let Optimus face Galvatron alone, commander?" Arcee asked.

"Optimus knows how to face his rival better than any of us." Elita defended. "Besides, we had more important issues to take care, such as making sure our little friend here was healed."

"Besides, we didn't have a choice." Warpath defended.

"It could be a trap. We need to get a fix on his location." Ratchet said.

Back with Optimus, Galvatron roared as he slowly got up and pushed Optimus back.

"How was it that you put it, Optimus? I could not have allowed this to end otherwise?"

Then Galvatron broke Optimus's sword off and stabbed it on his shoulder. Before Optimus could strike again, Galvatron punched him first and hard. Optimus managed to hit him, but this time it didn't made much of a thing. Galvatron continued punching him a couple of times before finishing with a strong uppercut that sent Optimus to the ground, before hitting him with his bowler to make sure he didn't get up. While he was down, Optimus could see a solar eclipse above him and the volcano getting more activity. As lighting appeared, Galvatron's eyes glowed at the same time. Optimus managed to tear off the piece of sword he had incrusted, but this time Galvatron pinned him to the ground. At base…

"I'm locked onto Optimus's signal." Ratchet located on his computer. But what he saw gave him a shock. "Wait. How is this possible?"

"What? What is it?" Hot Rod asked.

Elita went to see it, and also earned a shock. "We need to get Optimus out of there, now!"

The volcano started to erupt, but it wasn't ordinary lava what came out from the volcano, it was purple. It also launched lots of volcanic bombs of the same color.

Knowing what that meant, Galvatron laughed maniacally. "Well well, it seems the blood of Unicron I've been seeking is not out there, but rather right here."

"Dark energon erupting from the Earth?" Optimus asked in disbelief.

With Optimus at his feet, Galvatron prepared his sword for his moment of triumph. His vision was fulfilled.

To be continued…