"This is going to sound crazy, but Goh, give me the shield." Seb said.
Eternatus was recovering and they didn't have long if Seb was right.
"Okay, but what's your plan?" Goh asked.
"Ash said nothing changed, but you two did. Ash your powers developed, you can create barriers, or shields. Goh, honestly no clue if the sword will work for you, but this is my best guess right now." Seb said, handing the shield to Ash.
"Here you are." Ash said handing Seb the sword. As soon as the weapons were in their hands, a blue and red glow enveloped the two trainers.
"This is new." Ash said as the red light swirled around him.
"I can feel it, the power flowing through me." Seb said.
"I can feel something, but I don't think it's power." Ash said.
As the light faded, Ash and Seb were in new outfits.
"Oh god, this worse than my binders." Ash said tugging at his dress.
"That's what you notice, not these?" Seb said holding the now refurbished sword in his hand.
"You suddenly be put into a ball gown, and tell me what you notice." Ash said, holding the shield up. "Seriously, my nails too?" Ash said seeing the red manicure.
"It's great the weapons are restored, but Eternatus is almost ready to attack again!" Goh shouted.
"Come on Zamazenta where are you?" Ash pleaded.
"Inteleon use Snipe Shot!"
"Swampert use Hydro Pump! Pikachu use Thunderbolt"
"Mamoswine use Ice Fang!"
The attack that had previously caught Eternatus off guard didn't surprise it this time, as it swirled in ever closer.
"This might be it." Goh said, as Eternatus began charging.
A blur of red, quickly followed by one of blue, disrupted the attack, as the aura platform shook slightly. Zacian in front of Seb, and Zamazenta in front of Ash. The two kneeled down in front of the trainers waiting.
"You don't think?" Ash asked.
"What's the worst that could happen." Seb said, hopping onto Zacian's back.
Ash finagled himself to be sort of seated on Zamazenta, his legs dangling off one side.
"Stupid dress." Ash muttered to himself.
"Xatu, get Goh and the others to safety." Seb said.
The green bird gathered around Goh and the other Pokémon as they were teleported away.
"Alright, let's do this." Ash said, holding the shield in front of him. "You attack, I'll deflect."
"Okay Zacian, let's go." Seb said, unsure of what was happening.
Meanwhile a few floors down, Serena and Chloe were racing up another flight of stairs, when Goh and a group of Pokémon suddenly materialized in front of them.
"Goh! What's going on?" Chloe asked.
"Zacian and Zamazenta are up there fighting Eternatus, also Ash might be a princess now, I'm not sure." Goh said.
"Why aren't you up there with them?!" Chloe interjected.
"Apparently I'm not a chosen one anymore, besides where's Marnie?" Goh asked.
"Bottom of the tower with Team Yell." Serena said.
"Then we need to head that way." Goh said.
"What, why?" Chloe asked, as the ceiling above them began to crack.
"That's why." Goh said, ushering the group forward.
Back up top
Zacian and Zamazenta were leaping from rock to rock towards Eternatus, ready to strike it down and end this battle once again.
"Zacian use Behemoth Blade!" Seb shouted, as they leapt towards the Pokémon, a energy blade slicing through it.
"Zamazenta back them up with Behemoth Bash!" Ash said. The attack bounced Eternatus's beam back at it.
"How do we stop Eternatus for good?!" Seb asked.
"We capture him." Ash said. "You got any?"
"I haven't carried any in years, what about you?" Seb asked.
"If I had any, why would I ask?" Ash said. "Wait, I know who has one. Cover me!" Ash said, Zamazenta leaping to the base of the tower.
Back on the ground floor
Goh, Serena, and Chloe ran back out of the tower, to see more rubble falling from the top. They barely had time to react as Zamazenta and Ash landed in front of them.
"Goh, it's time for your expertise." Ash said.
"What do you mean, I wasn't even chosen this time." Goh said.
"Goh, Eternatus is free and you're the only one that can make that shot." Ash said. "Now are you coming or not?"
"Right, let's go." Goh said hopping on Zamazenta.
Back up top
"Zacian use Behemoth Blade!" Seb called out. Ash better hurry up with whoever he was getting.
"We're back!" Ash said, as Zamazenta leapt back up. "Goh, we'll give you an opening, and you take the shot."
"Got it." Goh said.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Xatu use Psychic!"
The two attacks struck Eternatus' causing it to falter in its flight.
"My turn. Pokeball go!" Goh shouted tossing it at Eternatus.
The trainers and Pokémon chased after the falling Pokeball, ready in case Eternatus broke free, or worse, the pokeball broke again after capturing it.
"Ash, you need to launch me." Goh said looking ahead.
"What!" Ash asked.
"Look! Marnie is down there!" Goh said, seeing Marnie unaware of the quickly impending threat.
"On it!" Seb said, leaping off of Zacian.
"What's his plan?" Goh asked in confusion.
"I know I can do this, I just need to concentrate." Seb said, as he neared the rubble falling. His eyes began to glow as a large blade formed in his hands, slicing through the stone.
"He has aura!" Ash said in shock.
"Ash! The pokeball!" Goh exclaimed, seeing it finish capturing.
"Right!" Ash said, urging Zamazenta towards the pokeball.
Back on the ground now fully regrouped.
"I gotta say Ash, love the new look." Chloe said, looking at the dress Ash was wearing. "Matches Zamazenta nicely."
"I could do without the heels or corset though." Ash complained. "Still not sure what caused use to look like this."
"I'm not complaining, I make this look good." Seb said. He had a blue suit that matched Zacian, along with a crown.
"Not even saying anything about the tiara?" Goh asked.
"The tiara isn't pinching me." Ash said. "Where's Serena?"
"Right here, I found your phone." Serena said angrily.
"Thanks, wait where's my bag?" Ash asked.
"That's what you're worried about! Your bag! Ash I found your messages with that girl!" Serena said angrily, showing him the phone.
"Serena, that's not my phone." Ash said. "You really thought I was cheating on you?"
"Stop lying, look at these conversation, Brock, Misty, May, Dawn, Iris, Cilan! Your friends!" Serena argued.
"Yes those are my conversations, but I change my background last week or did you forget that photo!" Ash argued back.
"Where are you going?" Serena asked seeing Ash walk off.
"To get out of this dress and get my phone." Ash said angrily.
It was a while later as Ash was going through Glimwood Tangle, his bag and phone had to be around here somewhere.
"Looking for these?" A voice asked.
"It's been a while, thought you'd given up." Ash said turning around.
"Just taking your advice, I alone can't beat you, so I've been having tryouts of sorts." Darkrai said.
"So you were the benefactor for Sordward and Shielbert. Are they even related to the prince?" Ash asked.
"That much they found out themselves, but I gave them the push they needed. Weak minded humans are such easy puppets to work with." Darkrai said. "Too bad they failed in getting rid of you."
"And our team is stronger than ever thanks to your efforts." Ash said.
"No matter, it's only you here, I'll end this now!" Darkrai said charging at Ash, only to be stopped by a Thunderbolt. "You brought help, so did I."
Portals opened up as Hypno, the Red and Black Salamence, and several Unown came through.
"Dragonite! Swampert! Snorlax!" Ash said sending out his own Pokémon.
"Attack!" Darkrai shouted.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack! Dragonite use Draco Meteor! Swampert use Rock Slide! Snorlax use Hyper Beam!"
Dragonite and Salamence took into the air after each other, as Swampert laid waste to the Unown, and Snorlax blocked Hypno.
"Impressive, but not good enough." Darkrai said, shooting towards Ash, his clawed hand outstretched.
"Still better than you." Ash said putting up an aura barrier.
"But your team is not." Darkrai said.
Ash looked behind him to see more and more Unown pouring out of the portal, outnumbering them.
"I'll make you a deal, stay out of my way, and I'll let you live." Darkrai said. "Wait, what in the?!"
Impidimp appeared aside Ash, with his bag in hand.
"Good work Impidimp, looks like everything is here." Ash said. "Now let me make a counter offer, stop while you're ahead. Pikachu use Discharge!"
The Unown began dropping quickly, turning the tables on their match once again.
"Perhaps a new method is needed." Darkrai said, sending out a large dark void, encompassing the battlefield.
When Ash awoke, Darkrai was gone, so we're his allies.
"Ash!" Goh said running up.
"Goh, what's going on?" Ash asked.
"Chloe said something about you needing to leave ASAP for class tomorrow. We've been looking for you. What happened?" Goh asked.
"Darkrai's back." Ash said. "And he's not giving up."
Later at the airport
"So I guess this is it." Ash said.
"Well, I was thinking, maybe it's time I return to the lab." Goh said. "If that's okay."
"We've grown a bit more mature, I think we can work any other remaining issues out." Chloe said.
"How about it Marnie?" Goh asked. "Wanna see Vermillion?"
"I'm staying here, for now at least. You know I don't do good with crowds of new people. Plus Team Yell is helping with the cleanup, and I said I'd join in." Marnie said.
"I'll miss you." Goh said embracing her. "And I'll call once we land."
"Actually, I'm staying too. Leon said he has something he wants me there for." Seb said.
"And us?" Chloe asked. "What about Friday?"
"I'll be there, I'm not an idiot." Seb said giving her a kiss.
"I'm not going anywhere." Serena reassured.
"Just, stop." Ash said, causing a silence. "After everything I've done for you, you honestly thought I was cheating on you?!"
"It was Sordward and Shielbert, they got in my head." Serena said.
"They got in all of our heads." Chloe admitted.
"My point is, I need some time. You accused me, and that hurt. I think we need a break." Ash said.
"I'm not leaving the lab, I still have my work there." Serena began to argue.
"I'm not asking you too, I'm just saying I need time before we try getting serious again." Ash said. "Just give me that much, you owe it too me."
"Okay." Serena said.
'Last boarding call for Vermillion.' A voice over the PA said.
"That's us, we should get going." Goh said, trying to ease the tension. "Bye Marnie."