~ Chapter 87 ~
Scramble to the Summit
"Climbing Mt. Coronet to reach the Spear Pillar is not for the feint of heart. It is not for the weak, or the undetermined. Not even the seasoned veteran. Nilama always said that one who travels to the Spear Pillar should do so with a purpose; and a damn good one at that. Having almost fallen to my death several times on the way up, I whole-heartedly agree. No one but the craziest or most determined person in the world would ever want to come up here. The craziest person was ahead of us, and now our most determined souls were there to follow and stop him. Doubt was the last thing on our mind at that point, survival was more important as we climbed the icy-hewn, snow-covered slopes of Coronet. That was the hardest, most dangerous enemy you'd face on the mountain. Survival. Stronger than any Pokémon—you didn't get to see the Spear Pillar by climbing Mt. Coronet. You got to survive the Spear Pillar by surviving the mountain."
They were nearing the Spear Pillar.
The higher up they went, the more ruined statues and murals they could see.
Some were still intact, others were wrecked though, by age or by Team Galactic—it was an even mix.
Nilama was prostrate within at the loss of culture and heritage, and the destruction of these ancient ruins and artefacts.
Sam and Rowan felt a similar loss, as did the Hiker Brothers, but they kept their sadness to themselves.
They had passed through many perils to reach here.
Hours of climbing, being only steps behind Team Galactic.
They faced sheer cliff faces, narrow ledges, harrowing winds and ice. Snow that nearly made them slip and fall to their deaths.
The snowy mountainsides lead back to the inner caverns and twisting tunnels and steep, ancient staircases.
Which eventually bled back out snow-covered mountainsides and even worse blizzards.
Sometimes they'd reach another lit cavern with crystals and they could see ancient check points, sacred hovels decidated as shrines for travellers—even what seemed to be an ancient tea house.
Waterfalls cascaded around these ancient ruins carved into the mountain itself, making a beautiful side and sound to all who beheld it.
If they weren't on a time limit they would've stopped to admire it and document the existence of this place, where none had set foot in millennia.
But alas, luxury of time was not on their side.
Right now, the group needed to give chase to Team Galactic.
The team up front, Sam and his friends, talked amongst themselves in hushed whispers as they crept up the dark caverns leading to the Spear Pillar.
"I'm glad you guys weren't hurt," said Alyssandra gently, "We were worried Team Galactic might try to hurt you to get back at us."
Niya shrugged. "They were a little rough in the way they treated us, but we were mostly left alone. Left to watch Cyrus work on the Red Chain and rip the gems from the Lake Guardians. That wasn't exactly pleasant. But otherwise, we had faith you'd come get us before we outlived our value."
"Though we were planning out an escape just in case," smirked Jeremy.
"I'm sorry we took so long," replied Sam, "We had to stop by Lake Verity, and then gather people to properly attack Veilstone City."
"How did Maylene take that?" asked Niya.
Sam shrugged. "She wanted what was best for her people, and what's best for her people was to push Team Galactic from her city. She was pretty upset that this was all going on under her nose without her knowing. She mostly left them alone…until they stopped being so benign."
"Did she know they were even there?" asked Niya.
Sam shook his head. "They were started as an alternative power company, apparently. I don't know if that was their original plan and they changed their mind, or it was just a front, but the previous Gym Leader had granted them their building. Since they kept quiet for so long, under a different name, she didn't put two and two together. They weren't hurting her people, so they weren't a threat."
"She must be happy to finally have them gone," added Jeremy, "I mean…not gone, gone, but, they've been arrested and pushed out of Veilstone, and the only Team Galactic members left are here on this mountain."
"If we can defeat them, we'll have finished them once and for all," added Alyssandra.
"That's a big if," snorted Niya.
Aurelio appeared alongside the four Lucario.
Everyone paused as the Lucario pointed towards a massive rock outcropping to hide behind.
Once they started talking, everyone understood why, and why they talked in hushed whispers.
"The majority of their forces are position here," explained Lucario, "The final set of stairs that leads to the Spear Pillar is just behind them."
"But of course, we have to get past them," added Aurelio, scratching his beard.
"No small order," replied Sam, confusing everyone else as he seemingly responded to no one, and jumped right ahead of the conversation, "There's a veritable army before us…there's no way we can take them out one by one. They were put there entirely to stop us or slow us down."
"They're doing a good job," noted Aurelio with a smirk.
"If we try to take them all on, they'll succeed in their mission," said Professor Rowan, "We can't take them all on without taking forever. By then Cyrus will have control of the Legendary Pokémon and it will be too late."
"Then there's really only one thing we can do," laughed Valentina.
Everyone looked at her.
"We need to sacrifice ourself, for the greater good of course," she explained.
People looked confused.
Sighing, she elaborated. "We'll take on the Team Galactic soldiers here, and these four can get to the Spear Pillar and save us all. No one has to die—I fully intend to survive."
Rowan looked at Valentina like she was suggesting the impossible.
"Come now, Rowan," laughed Cynthia, seeing Valentina's face, "It shouldn't be two hard for two former Champions and a current Champion."
"Well technically we were only Champions in title," smiled Aurelio, "But I've always like her!"
"And you're not alone!" cried Alan, "We might not be Gym Leaders or Champions, but we're decent Trainers. Right, Mama Lama?"
Nilama smiled wrly. "I owe these hooligans some pay back for everything they've done. I need a proper way to thank them."
She pulled a Poké Ball from a sudden and random compartment that opened from the bulbous, gnarled top of her staff.
She tossed the Poké Ball into the air and released a beautiful Latias.
"My husband had a Latios to match," she smiled to Sam as she saw the impressed look on his face, "A mating pair. My husband and his Latios have long since passed however, but us old girls are still here fighting!"
"A strong old woman as always," laughed Aurelio, "Still going to let yourself be out done, Rowan?"
Rowan released his Moltres.
Cynthia her Garchomp.
Valentina her Infernape.
Anthony, Alan and Alexander released several Golem, some Tauros and several Machamp.
"We only have our hiking Pokémon with us," smiled Alan sheepishly, "We weren't expecting any of this excitement, but I think you'll find they're just as strong and willing to help.
Three of the Lucario offered to stay behind, though Sam's was insistent he would be needed by Sam and stated he would be joining Sam in his coming battle atop the Spear Pillar.
Rowan looked down at his young wards. "You four go on and save us all," he smiled, the twinkling spark of his bygone youth slowly returning to his old body, "We'll take care of these goons here and meet you after. I haven't felt this young in years, ha!"
With a resounding yell, and a quick goodbye, Sam's friends and allies charged off towards the swarm of Team Galactic soldiers.
Sam wasted no time—as per his grandfather's advice—in trying to sneak around the chaos.
It was not an easy or quick trek, but with Lucario and Aurelio running recon it was easier than it would've been otherwise.
It took them a while to reach the final staircase, but once they had—ensuring they weren't seen or noticed—they made a mad dash up to the staircase, their feet echoing through the stone caverns, the sound of battle and the screech of Pokémon and people behind them clouding all doubts and thoughts that were trying to form in their heads.
Finally, they reached the entrance.
It stood before them, as a white beacon in the darkness; the doorway to destiny—quite literally.
They looked at each other, everyone.
Niya, Jeremy, Pikachu, Alyssandra, Sam and Sam's Lucario.
Once they went through this door, there was no going back.
There was no undoing what they were about to do.
They would enter the fight to save the world, and to tame and befriend the Legendary Creators of Sinnoh and the Universe.
"Here's hoping we don't die," smirked Niya.
Sam chuckled.
"Ever the optimist," snorted Jeremy.
"Let's go," said Sam.
Alyssandra stopped him, grabbing his hand, like she had on Route 202. Everyone joined hands, even Niya.
They looked at each other.
"Together?" asked Alyssandra.
Everyone nodded simultaneous, and stepped out of the darkness and into the light.
Out into the highest point of Mt. Coronet.
Into the Holy Spear Pillar.
Into the jaws of destiny.
Just like before, on Route 202, there was no going back.
