Book II: Impending Twilight

Chapter 108: Blood in the heavy rain

Point of View Zylen

Last night was like none other. After many hours of lectures from Mr Albino, I finally got to get some damn sleep, or a little bit at least. I spent most of the night shivering my butt off, it was so cold compared to many of the other places I have travelled to. Thankfully, I didn't freeze to death, and I made it to dawn.

Most of the area around me was now was well illuminated by the sun. All of the Crimson members took apart their camp, while I just sat quietly on a rock with my eyes closed in an attempt to get a few minutes of sleep back. I was still shivering from the cold, but it was better than last night. Arceus, what I'd give for some coffee or at least a blanket.

"We all set?" Vincent asked. My eyes opened to see that the camp was completely packed up. All of the Crimson members nodded. "Then we should get a move on, Xerneas awaits us."

With a tired yawn, I stood from my rock and joined them to begin the final step of our journey. The camp equipment was left by the campgrounds, so I guess they planned to come back for it. Without any further delay we began walking. For the next two hours we travelled through a snowy field, far off in the distance massive mountains could be seen, but thankfully we were not heading towards them. Every few minutes I couldn't help but glance at the espeon, despite him being a tad bit stuck up and a know it all type, he seemed decent... I mean he didn't seem like 'the world ending' type. I chuckled to myself on how ridiculous this was, I kinda felt bad that Annie felt so paranoid over nothing. Either way, I needed to make sure.

"So Vincent, what made someone like you join Crimson Dawn?" I questioned the espeon that was walking ahead of me. His ears perked up for a moment, before he glanced back with his left brow raised.

"Where did this come from?" he awkwardly asked.

I smiled at how sketchy that came off as, "I don't know, just passing the time," I shrugged. Vincent stared at me for a moment, before looking forward again with a scowl.

"It doesn't really concern you. You have your reasons for being a mercenary, so I won't question your reasons, and you'll do the same." I ever so slightly winced at his attitude.

"Fair enough," I nodded, even though it wasn't the answer I wanted.

Not wanting to blow my cover, I kept my mouth shut like a good mercenary. His silence was fine by me though, I had other ways to get people like him to talk, whether it be mind games, or getting them drunk out of their mind.

Eventually our journey brought us to a forest. Before we could walk any further, Mandus walked in front of the group and faced us. "According to Annie , this is where we will find Xerneas. Stay on guard, and remember everything we went over. Leave most of the fighting to Zygarde and myself." Mandus turned from us and began leading the way. Everyone including myself followed behind Mandus without any arguments.

As I walked through the forest with Crimson, I got a strange feeling. It was hard to explain, but something about this ancient forest felt so peculiar. The air here was so fresh, and while the trees were huge and obviously old, they looked so young and untouched by time. Many pokemon inhabited this forest as well, but none bothered us in any way.

"So, where exactly in this forest is Xerneas?" Merrick asked.

"No idea, just follow Mandus," Vincent simply answered.

Mandus slowly looked around the forest, before setting his eyes on an invisible trail, "I can sense a strange aura," Mandus began, "one that is similar to Zygarde's, yet very different at the same time."

"Hmmm, guess we're on the right trail," Merrick nervously smirked. To me it was kinda funny watching the quilava, he had such a quirky tough guy persona, yet I could tell he was getting more nervous by the minute. Well, at least he had a personality, unlike the greninja who seemed to be quiet most of the time, or the black scyther who has yet to say a single word.

As we got deeper into the forest, a heavy fog began masking our path. To make things worse, the canopy of branches above us were getting so thick that it was getting dark within the forest, almost like the time of day was just at the end of twilight. Also, the pokemon that inhabited this forest seemed to also grow scarce, actually, I couldn't even remember the last time I saw one at this point.

"So... are we lost?" Merrick asked.

"It's this way, the aura is growing stronger with each step we take," Mandus answered. I let out a sigh as I continued to follow the lucario without any arguments to this hunt.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened, or at least not until around a half hour passed. Our group stumbled upon a small shallow pond of water. It was no deeper than a few inches, and the ground below it seemed to be some non slippery rock surface.

"The aura... it disappeared..." Mandus stated with a bit of surprise.

"disappeared?" the greninja repeated.

Mandus crouched down low to the ground and placed his palm on the ground and concentrated. All of us just stood around and waited for him to finish, even after a few minutes passed Mandus still didn't move from his spot.

"Ahh, we're never going to find her!" the quilava pouted.

"We will," Scarlet replied as she sat cross legged in the water with her eyes closed.

Mandus finally stood up from his crouched position, and we all turned to see what he had to say, "This is very strange indeed. The aura just disappeared. A very unusual occurrence. Aura always lingers in an area, yet it is as if this aura never existed to begin with."

"So what does that mean then?" I asked. Mandus remained silent as he pondered something in his head for a moment.

"If I can't read the aura, then that would mean two things, it was completely erased by a method I don't understand, or its power is too great for me to even sense."

"That doesn't even make sense!" Merrick piped up. "Wouldn't it just be overwhelming or something then?"

"Not quite. I have to absorb at least a little of the aura to sense it, but if it's too much my body won't be able to bring it in at all. But if that is the case, then Xerneas is more powerful than we anticipated."

Out of nowhere, a strong breeze blew through the forest, Merrick was blown back, while the rest of us struggled to stay on our feet.

"Adversaries who enter my domain," a soft gentle female voice echoed from all directions. "Turn back now, or judgement shall be passed on all of you."

All of us looked around in every direction to find who was speaking, but to our surprise we were alone.

"Who are you?" Mandus spoke with seriousness.

"I am one who transcends the shackles of death, a giver of life, I am the Legendary you know as Xerneas," the voice spoke in a powerful gale of wind.

"Show yourself," Mandus demanded.

"Very well, if it is the path of a sinner you choose, then I cannot save you from your fate."

Suddenly, a massive ripple of water came from the center of the pond, and a massive four legged creature emerged from the water, forming waves all around it. The creature stood tall at around twice my height. My view of the Legendary was blinded by a variety of bright colors that came from the creatures antlers.

'So this is what another Legendary is like!?' I thought with astonishment as the light radiating from her anterlets dimmed just enough for me to make out the blue fur that travelled down her upper body, until it transitioned to black at her chest. The creature watched all of us with her bright blue eyes that had a glow to them.

"Glad you chose not to hide from us," Mandus calmly spoke to the moose.

"I've anticipated this day for many weeks, and at last we meet, Lucario. Many of my brothers and sisters have spoken of you, most wish you dead, but I find myself a bit curious in a mortal who defeated a Legendary."

"Is that so," Mandus replied.

"I have only one question for you, Lucario."

Mandus crossed his arms as he glared at the Legendary. "I'm listening."

"Life is such a beautiful gift, yet you waste such a gift on this path. Knowing that you will fail, do you regret your choice?"

"Never once did I think this plan would fail, but even if it does fail I regret nothing. I accept my fate, for I am the one who chose to walk down this path. If this path leads me to my own death then I'll accept that fate," Mandus answered.

The Legendary smiled as she stared at Mandus, "I'm happy for you then, but it won't remove the bitterness of taking another's life."

Mandus's arms fell to his side as his fists tightened, "Never once have the Legendaries showed care for mortal life. My whole life I've watched those around me suffer, I prayed every day to be saved from my hell, yet all I got in return for my faith was silence."

Xerneas paused in silence as she took in what Mandus said to her. "Lucario, there are rules in life us Legendaries must follow to keep balance. I cherish every life on this planet, yet it would be a mistake to save every life. It's natural selection, the weak die and the strong liv-" In a blurring motion Mandus dashed forward and slammed his fist between Xerneas eyes. The Legendary flew back into a tree and left her imprint on it.

"My my, so much fire burns within you, Lucario," Xerneas laughed to herself as she straightened out her neck, and a joint popped.

"Natural selection?" Mandus began as he threw his cloak into the air. "Their was nothing natural about what I saw, thousands of pokemon suffered day by day, and the world turned a blind eye to us," Mandus growled as he breathed heavily with rage. "When you watch everything around you burn to the ground and no one cares, then maybe you'll understand how horrible this world is. you Legendaries don't even know true pain."

"So it's rage that guides your fists?" Xerneas asked as a smile began to show on her face. "I will admit, I looked forward to meeting a pokemon that wanted change. It saddens me though, you're just a pitiful pokemon consumed by your own hate and anger."

"Mandus," Vincent called out, "We don't need to listen to her, what she has to say doesn't matter."

Mandus stopped for a moment and thought about what Vincent said,. "I suppose you're right," Mandus agreed. "In the end our battle in inevitable Xerneas."

Xerneas sighed as she stepped forward, "I wish not to fight any of you, but if this is your choice, then I'm afraid your end will be here."

Everyone in our group got into a defensive position as the lights on Xerneas anterlets began to radiate with bright colors again.

"Such a waste of life, you all could have lived if you made the sensible choice. I've expected you all to come for weeks now, but did you really think I planned on going against you alone?"

"Don't tell me..." Merrick spoke fearfully as a loud deep pitched howl could be heard off in the distance. In just seconds, three large canines came from above and landed in the water. All of us froze up at the sight of three heavily built canines.

"Hmmf, I was beginning to think he'd never show up," the canine in the middle snorted as he stepped forward.

"Are these things-" I tried to say.

"They're the three Legendary beasts," Vincent said in astonishment as he slowly back away. My eyes widened at the sight of the three creatures I've only heard of in legends. I recognized the middle one to be entei, the fire Legendary beast. I remembered this one the most from all the pictures I've seen in books as a child. It was scary on how close the books were, they captured his thick brown fur, they weren't even lying about his mane fuming freaking smoke! Accompanying the fire beast were Suicune and Raikou, two beasts I wasn't as familiar with, but I remembered them quite well.

'If they're here to kill us… then we're all dead.'

Entei smirked and a few embers came between his teeth, "Kill them all, leave no traces."

"Shit!" Was all I managed to yell before Suicune and Raikou both charged us at the same time. Both pokemon left a trail of mist and electricity in their paths as they moved in. Just as they closed in, all of us dodged their first attack.

'I'm going to die if I fight them!' I thought in my head as Suicune came straight at me with a torrent of water following him. 'Fuck, I gotta get out of here!' With all of my leg strength I lept into the air, and my form quickly changed into a pidgeotto. I soared as high as I could, until I reached above the canopy of trees. Once over the canopy, my jaw dropped at the sight of dark clouds swirling above, creating a vortex of bad weather.

Rain began to pour down from the clouds at an alarming rate, and in a flash a bolt of lightning struck me. My body lit up in agony as my form shifted back to my zoroark form and I fell. My vision became blurry, but I knew when I hit the ground I was going to be done for.

'Who would have thought it was going to end like this?' I thought as I fell into the canopy of branches and my body crashed through. On the way down I landed on a few larger branches. Each hit from the larger branches caused me to grunt violently, even when I had no air left in my body to exhale.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me, and I never hit the ground. Whoever grabbed me broke my fall and leaned me against a tree. I looked up to save my savior, and I was just barely able to make out Scarlet. The ninja had her sword out and was scanning the area.

"On your feet Zoroark. Their is no escaping this fight, if you hesitate for a moment we're dead." Despite a few broken ribs and aching everywhere, I placed my hand on the ground and began pushing myself up. Mid way up, I saw something approaching me from the corner of my eye.

"Shit!" I muttered as Entei stood there and began sucking in a deep breath.

"Zylen, transform!" Scarlet yelled. Doing as she said, I quickly shape shifted into an identical copy of her. On sync, the two of us pulled down our tongue scarves and shot a concentrated stream of water at Entei just as he released a massive flame thrower. The two elements collided and neutralized each other into a thick steam.

Within seconds I lost sight of Entei in the steam. "Zylen!" I turned to my side to see Entei raising his claw at me. My form shapeshifted back into my zoroark form as I dodged to the side, then I sprang up and landed a kick in his snout. Entei just barely flinched back from the attack, but responded with a ferocious growl that made me back away.

'No effect, seriously!?' I thought as the beast lunged at me again. Quickly, I dodged to the side and planted a firm punch in Entei's hip as he flew past me. My fists pulsed with pain as I felt like I punched a brick wall.

"This guy is built like a tank!" I yelled at Scarlet.

"Just keep fighting!" Scarlet shouted at me.

I was about to yell something back at her, but a bolt of lightning just barely missed me and blew up a tree behind me. Without a second of delay, I ran behind another tree and looked in every direction for an exit.

'Keep fighting?! Are you crazy, we're dead if we fight them. One Legendary is one thing, but four is suicidal.'

As I stood in cover, I could see flashes of lightning and fire illuminating the forest. "If this keeps up they'll burn the whole damn forest down." Cautiously, I peeked out of cover to spectate the fight, but through all the blinding lights off in the distance I couldn't make anything out, but I could hear the sound of explosions and fire crackling through the air.

"Wait... Maybe I'm not so screwed after all, if I just take one of their forms I should be able to defend myself against them." A magenta light flashed around my body and I felt my body changing, but a quarter through the transformation my body reverted back. "What the-" Suddenly the tree I was hiding behind was sliced in half by a hydropump. The tree I leaned against began to fall, so I rolled to safety and spun towards my attacker to see Suicune.

When I faced the creature I was only partially stunned by fear, but I was more amazed by how stunning Suicune appeared to be. The way the pictures depicted her were so different from real life, but some of the key features like her tails that waved forward, to the crest of her head, and even the purple mane of fur that waved in the wind were so accurate.

"Ummm hi," I awkwardly meeped as she stared me down and lowered towards the ground. In a loud roar, Suicune charged towards me with a wave of water forming behind her and followed in her footsteps. I managed to dodge Suicune's charge attack, but I was quickly caught in the wave of water that followed from behind her. I was completely submerged in water as my body spun in every direction I could think of. Not only was my air getting low, but I was getting dizzy and I wasn't going to hold out much longer.

'What am I doing?' I thought to myself, which then I shapeshifted into a vaporeon. With my changed form, I swam with impressive speed through the current of water, and then I swam upward and jumped out of the wave of water and into the air. While in mid air, my form switched over to a raichu. Once at the peak of my jump, I spotted suicune coming in for another attack with at a blurring speed. An electrical field formed around my body, which then discharged into a bolt of lightning towards suicune. Suicune's let out a pained bellow as she fell towards the ground with twitching muscles.

Just as I landed on the ground, Suicune was already pulling herself back up onto all fours.

'She's really going to be mad now...' I thought as the Legendary began to snarl at me, "You know... we don't have to fight?"

Suicune glared at me as her muscles slightly quivered from the jolt of lightning, but I doubted that it did much to cripple her overall strength.

"Perhaps if we fought under different circumstances that would be possible zoroark, but Legendary hunters don't go unpunished." Suicune moved back as she shot a hydro pump at me. I jumped to the side as my form shifted to a jolteon and I ran from the hose of water that was slicing all the trees around me in half. I quickly weaved around the hydro pump as trees fell to the ground from behind me.

In one strong burst of energy, I turned in a sliding motion towards Suicune and sprinted straight towards her with electricity flowing through my fur. As I ran towards her, she responded with a barrage of hail. I quickly slid to a stop as I tried to find an escape, but before I could even mutter something I was being impaled and sliced up by shards of hail the size of knives. Unable to hold my form, I changed back to a zoroark and fell to my back.

"Well played Zoroark, but it's over now," Suicune spoke as she walked towards me. I tried to stand up, but the blades of hail caused my muscles to lock up, and I found myself unable to even roll over.

"I can't die like this," I whispered to myself.

"I will offer you one final moment to make peace with Arceus before your end," Suicune offered as she walked behind me.

'Looks like I'm down to plan B,' I thought in my head as I watched Suicune close in on me. I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was a cough containing my own blood. "As if I'm going to pray to the god that's sending his dogs out to kill me," I muttered as I forced myself to my feet and used what little energy I had to jump away from Suicune. My fists clenched tightly as a magenta light discharged from my body and spreaded around the whole area, before slowly fading. "Sorry mutt, I don't have time to die, and quite frankly you're starting to piss me off."

"I'm surprised you can still stand with those wounds, but that makes for a more interesting hunt when you're fighting me with everything you have."

Slowly, the pain all around my body completely disappeared as I used my illusionary powers to change my sense of pain to numbness. It was a tactic that exhausted me quickly, but at this point I didn't have a choice, it was either I went all out here, or I wouldn't be making it back to Annie. Two magnetta flashes flared around me, and two identical zoroarks appeared on both of my sides, each sharing identical wounds as well. The three of us all grinned in unison as Suicune's eyes widened in surprise.

"Damn Zoroarks," Suicune growled towards us.

Third person point of view

All three of the Zylens glared at Suicune with wide grins and spoke the same words in unison, "What's the matter, not prepared for three on one?" In a quick blurring motion, the three zoroarks branched off in different directions with bullet-like speed that Zylen never had at the beginning of the fight..

Suicune quickly rocketed into the air as a vortex of water formed at her feet, then she came down towards the ground with the vortex of water growing in size. Right before Suicune touched down on the ground, one of the zoroark's flashed behind her and landed a solid kick with both feet on the back of her skull. Suicune's attack fell apart just before she touched the ground, and the attack never reached its true potential. Suicune quickly recovered back up to her feet, just in time for another Zylen to appear out of nowhere and kick her right in the jaw. The Legendary flailed to the left, and another Zylen appeared and slammed his fist right in her right eye, forcing Suicune to let out a loud cry as she moved back and clenched her right eye shut.

The three Zylen's all appeared at a safe distance from Suicune as they watched her with their arms crossed. "Had enough yet, because you're not as strong as I anticipated for a Legendary. So why don't you go home with your tail between your legs."

Suicune began prying herself off the ground. "Tricky zoroark," Suicune muttered as she fully stood up. "Don't assume for a single second that you're better than me, a god!" Suicune's voice boomed. "We Legendary beasts have lived for eons, do you think you're the first to challenge me?! I've destroyed armies of you worthless mortals!"

"An army of what, rattata?" All three of the Zylens snorted.

Suicune looked down towards the ground before she started to break out in a hysteric laughter.

"What's so funny?" Zylen questioned the Suicune as he began to feel a bit uneasy.

"Mortals, you're all the same. Always believing you can overthrow us Legendaries, thinking that we aren't that far apart. I'm going to show you a secret little fox," Suicune looked upward towards Zylen with a malicious glare. "Zygarde was actually one of the weaker Legendaries, while he is the guardian of the ecosystem, his powers aren't fighting, it's restoring and watching over the world. That is why he remained in hiding underground, he was a frail Legendary that could be overpowered by a few mortals. But what about a Legendary that was actually born with a natural gift of fighting?"

"What are you going on about?"

"Many of us Legendaries suppress our true powers. My very true nature brings rainstorms upon this world that would wash away civilizations if it pleased me. Now brave or very foolish Zoroark, show me how powerful you are against the true power of a God." Suicune bowed her head for a moment, before pointing her snout towards the sky and letting out a deep howl that made the three Zylens cover their ears. In an instant, rain poured down from the heavens and began to flood the ground within seconds. Torrents of water swirled by Suicune's feat as a blue waterlike aura flowed around her person.

"Oh what in the hell..." Zylen said with astonishment as Suicune's very presence caused the water around her to repel away in powerful ring shaped wakes.

Vincent, Scarlet, Merrick, and Kane all ended up in their own separate part of the forest. Each one of them surrounded Xerneas as the Legendary patiently waited for them to make their first move. All four of the Crimson members took small steps towards the Legendary, each slightly blinded by the colorful light radiating from the end of her antlers. Rain poured down on the scene, and off in the distance the sound of the other battles could be heard.

Just as the Crimson pokemon took one step closer, Xerneas released a strange thick mist into the air.

"Not this crap!" Merrick yelled before he blindly fired a flamethrower at the Legendary. Right at the end of Merrick's flame, Xerneas appeared from the mist with a blue energy charging in her mouth. "Oh... shit..." Merrick whispered to himself as the Legendary released the blue energy into a beam. Just before Merrick was hit by the attack, Kane jumped in on the scene and punted him like a ball. Merrick let out a yell as he flew to safety, and Kane weaved around the attack and went straight for Xerneas.

Scarlet came in from behind the moose and readied her sword for an attack. As the two closed in, Vincent stood off in the distance and got ready to bail the two out with an illusion, while Merrick was still recovering from being punted in the air. In a quick barrage, Scarlet and Kane slashed their blades at the fairy type Legendary in a fury of swings. Blood flew in every direction as Xerneas tried to get away, but both pokemon moved with speed she couldn't even process. After a few more seconds of attacks, Xerneas fell to the muddy ground and let out a cry, before her eyes closed.

"That's it?!" Merrick exclaimed as he limped towards the fallen Legendary.

Scarlet watched the fallen moose carefully, "She seemed so much more frail than Zygarde, last time I could barely even get my sword to penetrate him."

Vincent joined in on the scene, "We didn't even have to use Zygarde, but we can't linger here much longer, Zylen and Mandus are still fighting the Legendary beasts."

"Then get on with it," Merrick urged Vince.

VIncent walked to Xerneas and rose his paw up to place on Xerneas, but before he did his eyes widened in astonishment. The many deep gashes and cuts on Xerneas body were healing at a rapid rate, and soon they faded to nothing. A strong gasp came from Xerneas as her eyes opened.

"I am a god of life, did you really expect to defeat me so easily?" Xerneas asked as she got to her feet. Everyone around her jumped back from Xerneas as she got to her feet. "Now show me, what other powers do you have?"

In quick blurs Mandus quickly dodged Raikou and Entei as they chased after him in the heavy rainstorm that came from nowhere. The lucario jumped from tree branch to tree branch as the Legendaries both took turns jumping up at him and destroying the branches he used as jumping pads. Mandus jumped on another tree branch and used the branch to leap high into the air. Two aura spheres formed in both of his palms and he chucked each at a separate beast. Both of the canines dodged the explosive spheres with ease, before they went back to pursuing the lucario.

"Quick bastard!" Entei snapped as he picked up his speed and shot a torrent of flames up into the trees at Mandus. Mandus propelled himself down to ground level as the flames ignited the trees above him, but the flames quickly died out in the rain storm.

Both Mandus and the two canines stopped and faced each other in defensive positions. Both of the canines snapped and snarled at the lucario as he just watched them with two aura spheres forming in his palms.

The Legendary beast Raikou glanced up towards the stormy sky for a moment, before glancing at Entei. "Was Suicune's opponent really so great that it was necessary for her to release her divinity?"

"Hmmf, doubtfully," The fire beast snorted. "Suicune has always been rash and compulsive. Although, I do grow tired of these mortals."

Mandus continued to watch the two pokemon talk amongst each other as he devised a plan in his head.

Entei scoffed towards Mandus "No matter, released divinity or not, we will eradicate every trace of these blasphemous mortals."

The two beasts directed their attention back towards Mandus and charged at the lucario. Both Legendaries zigzagged around all of the trees as Mandus did the same to keep his distance from the two. Raikou went in for the first attack with a thunder fang as he bolted towards the lucario. Just as Raikou closed in on Mandus, the lucario allowed himself to fall flat to the ground and the beast missed and passed over Mandus. Just as Raikou soared over, Mandus slammed one of his two aura spheres into Raikou's underbelly. The electric type let out a pained roar as he flew upwards. While Raikou was still airborne, Mandus launched himself at the canine and extended his other aura sphere out towards the beast. But, just as Mandus neared Raikou, Entei tackled into Mandus and forced the lucario down onto the ground. Entei clamped his teeth down onto Mandus's shoulder and lifted him up.

"Weak, very weak," Entei spoke as he bit down harder, causing Mandus to yell out as the bones in his shoulder were crushed. Mandus concentrated his aura and slammed his left palm into Entei's neck, causing a powerful explosion that forced entei to fly back, but in the process he ripped off a section of Mandus's shoulder.

Mandus let out a loud grunt as he used his left hand to try and stop the bleeding on his shoulder.

"Why you little!" Entei snapped as he charged back at Mandus. With a pained moan, Mandus jumped back up into the trees and began to retreat. The movement of the lucario became very sloppy and much slower than before, and around the fourth branch he jumped onto, it snapped and the lucario plummeted to the ground.

"You coward!" Raikou snapped as fresh blood poured from a stomach wound. "Just die!" he shouted as he shot a bolt of lightning. Mandus just barely moved away, but he tripped and fell onto his hands and knees while evading the attack.

Mandus slowly pushed himself up and faced towards the two Legendary beasts. His fists tightened as he glared at the two, but then he clapped his hands together as if he was meditating. A blue aura flared around Mandus as his body radiated with a white light, and his form changed to his mega state.

"Hmmf, been holding back, Lucario?" Entei scoffed as he moved towards him.

"I'm far from done!" Mandus rose his voice as he bolted towards the two Legendaries. Both shot their own affinities at Mandus, but the lucario weaved around each attack with ease as Aura began to surround his fists. Both Legendaries jolted back in surprise from Mandus's speed. Before they could even process it, Mandus was in front of the two landing a barrage of punches and kicks that sent both of the Legendaries tumbling to the ground.

"This ends here!" Entei snapped as he clawed his way up off of the ground. "Raikou! Release your divinity!" Entei yelled at his comrade.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for the three of us to go all out in the same area, we'll leave nothing left of this forest," Raikou questioned Entei.

"Do it, I want this lucario to realize how small he is compared to us," Entei grinned.

"Very well," Raikou nodded. Mandus froze as he tried to figure out what the two pokemon were talking about.

Both of the Legendary creature lowered their heads before raising their nose to the sky and letting out a loud howl that sent tremors through the ground. In mid howl both Legendaries flared up with a powerful aura that matched the color of their affinities.

Just as both of their howls were ending, Raikou was shocked by a powerful bolt of lightning that left electricity circuiting through his fur, while flames rose up from Entei's back and the ground at his feet began to crack as smoke rose up from the ground. Rain continued to pour down from the sky as bolts of lightning frequently came down from the sky. The cracks in the earth around Entei's feet continued to expand at an alarming rate, until they were going as far as Mandus could see. From within the cracks small flames and many embers spewed out and illuminated the forest, along with adding a smoke effect to the already chaotic battleground.

"Brace yourself mortal!" Entei roared as the flames on his back rose in size, sending embers everywhere. "Bare witness to the true power of a God!"

Mandus readied himself for an attack from the two amped up Legendaries. Raikou was the first to move, but Mandus didn't even see the attack as the Legendary just flashed in front of him with a loud crackle of lightning and left three bloody streaks down his chest. Mandus tried to jump back to safety, but Raikou continued to flash in front of him, each time leaving three more bloody streaks on his body.

Entei came in from the side as a blazing ball of fire that distorted the air around him. In a desperate attempt not to die, Mandus avoided the charging beast. As Entei ran past Mandus, the ground around him was burned up to a charcoal, even the trees were being scorched, and the only thing keeping this forest from setting fire was the pouring rain.

Just as Mandus finished dodging Entei's attack, Raikou came again and tackled into Mandus. Mandus managed to take most of the blow with his arms, but the force of the attack sent him flying into a tree, leaving an indent of his form. Mandus coughed up his own blood as he fell to his rear. Blood poured from the many wounds covering Mandus's body, and the lucario knew he was going to bleed out at any moment if this continued.

Just as Mandus tried standing back up, Raikou flashed in front of Mandus again and swiped his claws downward at Mandus's face. Blood splattered into the air as Mandus let out a loud yell and covered his left eye with his hand. Mandus didn't waste a single second getting back to his feet and getting some distance between him and the Legendaries, but his strength was fast to dwindle and he fell to his knees.

"Looks like he's all out of energy," Entei laughed as he began to calmly walk towards Mandus.

Mandus remained on his knees as he clenched the giant gash that travelled down his face, and through his left eye.

"You've endured enough pain Lucario, consider this an act of mercy to you, a release from your suffering."

Mandus glared at the Legendaries with his one remaining eye. "This pain is nothing," Mandus snapped as he tried to stand up, but fell back to his knees and had to catch himself with his hand. But Mandus looked up with a flame of newfound energy in his eye, one that didn't show a single sign of giving up. "True pain is more than being torn to pieces. True pain is the pain of having everyone around you die, true pain is hurting those you love, true pain is losing everything that defined who you were!"

"What are you rambling about?" Entei laughed as he smacked Mandus with his paw and sent the Lucario tumbling to the ground.

Mandus rolled onto his stomach and began to push himself up, while panting. "Very few could say they've experienced what I have, yet I can only name one in this whole world besides me..." Mandus quietly spoke as his blood mixed in with the rain. "I'm no longer even a normal lucario, my very body has been tampered with. let me show you what I have become, Legendary beasts, let me show you what you've brought upon yourselves," Mandus spoke as a resolved smile formed on his face.

Chapter End

Author Note: Heh heh, I've been really looking forward to writing this battle for quite sometime. I'd have to say though, if three Legendary beasts came at me at once I'd probably just lay down on the ground and just let them get it over with... Also, don't forget that I'm always open to criticism.

Special thanks to genericgamer207 for editing this chapter.

Question: Do you think Crimson will manage to beat the three Legendary beasts and Xerneas?