Draco: Okay, I've got two little rambles before this chapter starts - gameplay angle, and story angle.
Gameplay angle - Shadow Lugia is a mandatory Snag via Single Battle. If you defeat it without catching it, then you're brought right back to before the fight and Lugia just screeches at you. You've seen this before; Reshiram, Zekrom, Xerneas, Yveltal, and Rayquaza were mandatory catches in Black, White, X, Y, and the Delta Episode, respectively. All of them shared a catch rate of 45, including Rayquaza, who previously had a catch rate of 3. Lugia would receive a similar treatment. Incidentally, a catch rate of 45 has, in my experience, always led to a surefire catch with an Ultra Ball as long as their HP is in the red. But I'm gonna be a little more dramatic. As I hinted on the approach to Citadark, the isle is perpetually considered a 'dark' location that satisfies the conditions for Dusk Balls to present a... 3.5× catch rate modifier (for comparison, an Ultra Ball has a catch rate modifier of 2×).
Also, in Chapter 4, I expressed my desire for a Unovan-style #BGMOverride when Shadow Pokémon were sent into battle, which included a brief silence containing a heartbeat. For the fight with Shadow Lugia, the battle theme would be an amped-up #DarkReprise of that track... sans heartbeat. Heart lost.
Story angle - remember when I said Wes and Rui were travelling with separate parties for the purposes of my story despite the fact that they would be sharing a party in gameplay? This would be why.
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Chapter 26: Fall
The other small room that bordered the entryway contained an elevator - and this one took Wes and Rui up to the Colosseum.
As Wes had anticipated, the battlefield easily rivalled that of Realgam Colosseum; they seemed to be standing slightly less than the center of the sphere's height, and the dome contained the room completely. The lift that brought them here wasn't a contained box, either, but a platform suspended between two pillars, leaving them unsurrounded when they arrived. Lights ringed the battlefield, facing inward - and they shone just bright enough for Wes to make out Greevil standing on the far end. He stood with a cane in his hand - not that he was using it to support himself, but that he was brandishing it like a weapon - and his back was to them as they arrived.
"Well, well, well." The Grand Master turned around, sweeping his cane out threateningly. "You have crushed my Shadow Pokémon project, pursued me to Citadark Isle, and even defeated my Guardians. I had no idea that trainers like you would pursue me this long."
Rui glared at him; Wes noticed that she didn't even have her eyes open, and her braids were shaking behind her as she worked off aura alone. "After everything you've done," she proclaimed, "there was no way we'd just let you carry on!"
Greevil laughed tauntingly. "Foolish child," he reprimanded. "There is a level of suffering that no reward is worth. I had thought you would prefer to avoid such suffering... but it seems you're all too eager to be destroyed."
"You're mad if you think we'd avoid a little pain and let you subject any more Pokémon to endarkenment," Wes retorted. "Stopping you is worth any suffering."
"But you won't stop me," Greevil proclaimed. "I've made sure of that!"
He raised his cane and slammed it to the ground - and light began to shine through from the opposite wall. Rui opened her eyes as a segment of the dome began to open up; the weather around the island meant it was still awful dark, but enough light was coming through the clouds to see by as an entire 90 degrees of the dome opened up to the stormy skies. The opening gave way to a sheer rock face; the dome extended over the rim of the volcano, and it seemed there wasn't even any lava flow on this side of the mountain.
And an avian figure began to soar towards them, in black and silver.
"Come forth, Lugia - black as night!"
Rui stepped back as the XD Pokémon soared into the Colosseum; the dark aura coming off of Shadow Lugia, more intense than any Shadow Pokémon before it, seemed to attack her as she witnessed it. The Silver Stormbringer landed upon the battlefield, crossing its wings before it and then spreading them wide with a mighty screech that shook the dome.
"Codename XD001," Greevil proclaimed. "You can see it, can't you, Snagger - shadows so deep as to be clear to all who witness it! Its heart has been lost completely, an endarkenment that cannot be unmade! I present to you, Shadow Lugia!"
Wes took a deep breath, made to step forward... and found himself stopped by Rui.
"Let me."
It only took a moment's glance for Wes to understand the motive; the darkness that was coming off of Shadow Lugia encroached upon her, and she wanted the peace of mind that would come from quelling it herself. He nodded, stepping back and making to remove his Snag Machine, and Rui advanced, reaching for her belt.
"I'm counting on you."
She hurled one Ball forward, and Raikou appeared from it. The Thunder Beast opened his eyes, regarding the Shadow Pokémon before him, before glancing back at Rui and nodding in understanding. Moving so fast as to seem a blur of gold, Raikou charged forward, closing the distance in a moment as Lugia braced its wings before it. Its body seeming to spark in the air, Raikou leapt forward, slamming a blitzing Quick Attack into Lugia and then using the Stormbringer as a foothold to leap to the walls of the battlefield.
Lugia parted its wings with a screech, and a shadowy aura spread across the battlefield, blotting out not only the light coming from outside the dome but the illumination of the lights that ringed the stage. Wes was blinded in the darkness, and dropped to one knee as Rui and Greevil began to work off auras alone; Raikou, moving along the walls of the dome, had sharper vision, and had nearly lapped the battlefield before he leapt towards Lugia for a second Quick Attack.
The Stormbringer saw the Thunder Beast coming, and this time it was prepared. As Raikou connected, Lugia opened its mouth to screech, and darkness gathered in the winds that manifested from its maw. The gales formed a concentrated vortex that slammed into the Thunder Beast, and the sheer power of the Shadow Blast left Raikou tumbling across the Colosseum, knocked out.
Rui quickly withdrew him before he made contact with Wes; then she sent out Entei to take his place. The Volcano Beast regarded his opponent and quickly charged forward; his heavier steps seemed to give Lugia the opportunity to strike him down before he connected, but Entei only veered to the side as the Shadow Blast surged, leaving it slamming into the battlefield where he had been running a moment before.
Entei leapt forward with a roar, a ferocious Bite closing on Lugia's wing; the Stormbringer screeched, flailing to throw Entei to the ground before unleashing a broader Shadow Storm. The twisters slammed into Entei, knocking him off his feet; he managed to recover and made to charge again, barely landing another Bite on Lugia's other wing before the darkness encroaching on him from the Shadow Sky finished him off.
He hadn't struck the ground before Rui withdrew him; once she had, Suicune was sent out for the final push. The moment she saw her opponent, the Northwind Beast reared back and howled, unleashing a Gust that crossed the Colosseum and connected with Lugia. The Stormbringer rounded on her in retaliation, and Suicune stood her ground as he loosed a Shadow Blast to strike at her; she barely managed to endure the blow, and sent forth a second Gust to strike the Shadow Pokémon once more.
The Shadow Sky exhausted her and then began to subside; Rui withdrew Suicune and sent out Ho-Oh to take her place. The Rainbow Phoenix and Silver Stormbringer stood opposite one another in the Colosseum, and for a moment Lugia seemed to hesitate. Then the Shadow Pokémon made to attack again, and Ho-Oh understood in an instant that the objective was not defeat - it was capture. He did not attack in turn, taking the Shadow Blast with wings spread wide; as Wes' vision returned, he handed the Snag Machine to Rui, who bound it around her arm before seizing a Dusk Ball out of his Bag.
"Here goes everything."
She held the Ball at her side - and the Snag Machine whirred, wrapping the Ball in streams of light as the two great birds clashed. Another Shadow Blast struck Ho-Oh, who barely managed to hold on; as soon as she dared, Rui brought the Snag Ball back and pitched it forward.
Greevil yelled in terror as it neared Shadow Lugia; the Ball opened up, and the rings extended from its surface, enveloping the Shadow Pokémon and filling the Colosseum with light. The Stormbringer screeched as it vanished into the Ball, which fell to the floor of the Colosseum.
Shake...
Shake...
Shake...
...Click!
Wes pumped his fist in approval as the Ball bounced back to Rui; her hand closed on it, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Greevil's screech echoed through the Colosseum as Rui lowered Lugia's ball, raising Ho-Oh's to withdraw the Rainbow Phoenix as the Grand Master stormed forward.
"How dare you!?" he demanded. "XD001... Cipher's greatest achievement! How dare you take it away from me!?"
"It's over," Wes proclaimed, stepping forward. "You've lost, Greevil. Cipher is broken. You're finished!"
"No..." Greevil raised his staff before him, hand shaking - and Rui saw a familiar jewel gleam on the head of the staff. "This is not the end... I will not let it be the end! I will destroy you both, and take back Shadow Lugia!"
He raised his gaze, his eyelids finally opening... and Wes saw, as he had in Evice and Lovrina, the darkness that filled the whites of his eyes.
You are challenged by Cipher Grand Master Greevil!
If Wes had any doubts yet that the cane had merely been a tool to present the 'feeble old man' image while he was in Gateon, they vanished when Greevil leapt into the air, ascending nearly twice his own height as he whirled around and hurled a pair of Poké Balls forward. A Houndoom and Manectric appeared there; Wes promptly sent out Hitmontop and Altaria in return, ready to retaliate.
Manectric unleashed a Thunderbolt in Altaria's direction, and Houndoom loosed a stream of Flamethrower at Hitmontop. The Handstand Pokémon managed to power through, whirling close enough to bombard Houndoom with a barrage of Close Combat; as soon as Altaria shook off the voltage, she retaliated with a mighty Dragon Pulse that slammed fiercely into Manectric, leaving him reeling.
The Discharge Pokémon managed to right himself; Houndoom wasn't so lucky, knocked out by the rush of blows. Greevil withdrew him, sending out a Togekiss to take his place; the Jubilee Pokémon promptly soared forward, unleashing a Dazzling Gleam that struck both of Wes' Pokémon quite fiercely. Altaria managed to hold on, but Hitmontop was knocked out by the light; as Wes withdrew him, the Humming Pokémon retaliated with a Flamethrower of her own, fire washing over Togekiss before Manectric struck the Dragon with another Thunderbolt.
Wes withdrew her as well, sending out Ampharos and Octillery to take their place. Speed was of the essence; Octillery quickly hit Togekiss with an Ice Beam, the cold finishing what the heat had started, and Ampharos hurled a bombardment of Power Gems at Manectric, knocking him out as well. Greevil withdrew them both, sending out a Milotic and Armaldo to take their place; a grin rose on Wes' face, and he glanced back at Rui.
She nodded, throwing him her pocket watch; he popped it open, and set his thumb on the Key Stone in the center of the clock.
The Ampharosite braced around her neck reacted, a brilliant light washing over her; Wes pumped the watch into the air as prismatic radiance enveloped the Light Pokémon, and then shattered to reveal her Mega Evolution. A mane of blinding white wool extended from over her head, and her tail, too, had become bright white and fluffy, with red orbs scattered across its surface. Her entire body had brightened a few shades, and her ears now seemed more light horns; she opened her eyes and screeched, every orb on her body glowing with voltage.
Greevil's Pokémon were clearly concerned by the opposition, but had no opportunity to think better of the fight; Octillery quickly took aim, unleashing an Octazooka that slammed into Armaldo at full power. Milotic moved to charge Octillery and interrupt the bombardment, but Ampharos unleashed a blast of Thunder that came down hard on the Tender Pokémon, knocking her out; Armaldo tried to retaliate, but lacked the strength, fainting as well.
Fury was plain in Greevil's voice as he withdrew the two Water-types. "Very well," he insisted. "If that's how you wish to play it!"
He threw out his last Poké Ball, and an Aerodactyl appeared there - and Wes saw, bound around his midsection, a Mega Stone. Then the Grand Master flung his staff into the air, sending it turning end over end; as it came back down, he seized it by the head - and the Key Stone set therein - as he slammed it to the ground, and the Aerodactylite reacted to the touch.
It wasn't endarkenment that had shrouded Greevil's eyes - his heart was not locked, but black, and the Pokémon that he had trained trusted him out of knowing no better.
Mega Evolution washed over Aerodactyl as it had over Ampharos; when it faded, the Fossil Pokémon looked far more menacing. His wings were spread wider, and where his hands had been were now rocky spikes emerging from the ridge of his wings. Similar stone covered his head like a helm, sharpened the spike upon his back, and formed a strange pattern upon his midsection; spikes rose up along his tail, and his talons had lengthened, now long enough to scissor a victim between them.
Aerodactyl swept his wings forth, and then parted them with a roar before soaring forward. Ampharos barely had the chance to attack before the Fossil Pokémon swept a ferocious Dragon Claw across her side, leaving her reeling. As Aerodactyl swooped around to give them a wide berth, Octillery took aim, unleashing an Ice Beam that hit swift and sure; the Fossil Pokémon's flight faltered, and Ampharos promptly followed up with a ferocious Dragon Pulse that slammed into him full-on. Wounded but not defeated, Aerodactyl came forward for another blow; this time the Dragon Claw was enough to finish Ampharos off, her Mega Evolution subsiding.
Her attacker was still soaring off when Octillery managed to land a heavy-shot Octazooka, and that was sufficient to return the favor.
"...No...!" Greevil was terrified as Aerodactyl hit the ground, his own Mega Evolution fading out. "No! No!" The staff fell from his hands, and he fell to his knees, his hands coming up to support him. "No, no, no! It can't be happening! Not after all we've done!"
Wes withdrew his Pokémon, and he and Rui stepped forward, crossing the battlefield so that they were standing over the Grand Master.. "It's over, Greevil."
"No..." Greevil shook his head. "We were so close...! Everything was so close-!"
"Cipher is finished," Rui proclaimed. "Everyone who would work on the endarkenment process has already turned on you." Her hand fell to the Dusk Ball on her belt. "We've Snagged your XD Pokémon, and we're going to find a way to purify it. There's now way for you to recover from this. Give up."
"Give up, you say..."
A sinister laugh emerged from Greevil, and Wes and Rui stepped back as he raised his gaze. "You've ruined everything I've done, and now you've ruined me... Perhaps there is no way to recover from this..." He shook his head. "But neither will I give you the satisfaction of getting away with my defeat!"
He reached one hand to the comm device on his ear. "Ardos! Citadark Isle will fall! Self-destruct immediately!"
Wes started. "You're out of your mind!" he reprimanded.
"If I am to fall here," Greevil proclaimed, "you shall fall as well! I swear it!"
Rui turned to Wes. "We have to get out of here! We can't-!"
The entire island shook - with enough force to rock the Colosseum. As they were thrown off-balance, the battlefield began to crack, pieces falling off their own supports and landing against others at warped angles. Wes, Greevil, and Rui all ended up on separate portions; Rui found herself sliding down her surface and straight out the open gap in the dome, and Wes ended up landing on the arc of the dome, tumbling down until he reached what was the roof of the computer room.
As he managed to right himself, he heard Rui's voice - distant, but audible - from outside. "Wes!"
"Rui!" He dashed as close to the gap as he could, finding the curve too steep to climb. "Are you alright!?"
"I'm fine!" Rui insisted. "Get to the docks! I'll meet you there!"
Wes grit his teeth. "Got it!"
He charged back towards the elevator shaft, and dropped into the computer room to find the ballistic glass barrier between him and the exit had lowered.
+x+x+x+
Eldes' voice came on over the speaker system as Rui was descending, ordering all Cipher operatives to evacuate Citadark immediately. The non-volcanic face of the mountain made for a rather difficult climb, especially with the constant tremors of the self-destruction - but eventually, Rui found herself approaching the docks. One Luxo Cruiser was gone, presumably commandeered by the fleeing Peons; Naps and Wes were waiting on the other Luxo Cruiser, and relief decorated Wes' face when he saw Rui approaching.
She was almost to the dock when someone stepped into view before her - a figure with silver hair.
Nascour drove his left hand into Rui's stomach with an outward swipe, knocking the wind out of her and leaving her reeling back before she could even react. Rui doubled over, but managed to retain enough awareness to know a second blow was coming; she managed to sidestep it, stumbling away to put distance between them.
"That's my boat."
Rui was fighting to catch her breath as she glared at him. "Nascour... So you were here...!"
"Not only have you enlisted the aid of those we abandoned," the General accused, "but you turned our last faithful Admin against us. And now you've stolen XD001, and defeated the Grand Master himself! I'd hoped he would never be driven to such desperation as to self-destruct the island, but I will not let it be in vain!"
You are challenged by Cipher General Nascour!
He seized two Poké Balls from his belt and flung them forward like a Warrior engaging in iaijutsu; his Blaziken and Walrein appeared there, and as Rui went for her own belt Nascour reached for his Key Stone. The Mega Evolution shattered around Blaziken as Rui sent out Raikou and Suicune; the Blaze Pokémon promptly charged at Raikou, striking him with a Blaze Kick as he unleashed a Thunderbolt in Walrein's direction.
Walrein retaliated with an Ice Beam, striking the Thunder Beast as Suicune unleashed a Hydro Pump that washed over Blaziken in retaliation. He managed to outlast the torrent, leaping towards her for a High Jump Kick; the blow connected fiercely with the Northwind Beast's crystal crest, but she swiftly retaliated with a Gust that finished him off as Raikou struck down Walrein with another Thunderbolt.
Nascour withdrew his Pokémon with an angry shout, flinging two more Poké Balls to send out Dusknoir and Xatu. Rui withdrew Raikou, sending out Entei to take his place as Suicune blasted Xatu with an Ice Beam; the Mystic Pokémon managed to cling to consciousness, retaliating against the blow with a Giga Drain that had Suicune reeling. Entei charged at Dusknoir, who made to intercept him with a Shadow Punch; the Volcano Beast tanked the blow and retaliated with a harsh Bite, seizing the Gripper Pokémon by the arm and roughly slamming her to the ground.
Suicune hit Dusknoir with another Ice Beam as she was rising, and Entei rounded on Xatu, finishing her off with another Bite. Nascour was raging at this point as he withdrew them, sending out his Alakazam and a Glalie; the Psi Pokémon acted first, hitting Entei with a critical Psychic that knocked him out, and Glalie connected with Suicune in a fierce Headbutt before she could attack in retaliation.
Rui withdrew them both, sending out Raikou and Lucario; Wes didn't need prompting, drawing out the pocket watch she'd given him and touching the Key Stone to set off the Lucarionite. Raikou roared, calling down a blast of Thunder that hit Alakazam something fierce and paralyzed him what's more; the moment Lucario's Mega Evolution subsided, he charged forward, raking a Metal Claw across Glalie that left him spinning.
The Face Pokémon retaliated with an ineffective Crunch, and Lucario finished him off with a rapid Bone Rush; Alakazam didn't have the chance to act before Raikou finished him off with a Quick Attack.
"No!" Nascour protested. "Not again...!"
He withdrew his Pokémon all the same; Rui withdrew Raikou, and as Lucario's Mega Evolution faded out she yelled, "Get on the boat!"
Nascour raised his gaze. "What-?"
Of a sudden, Lucario was behind him, pinning his hands behind his back as Rui yelled, "Get on the boat! And don't try anything!"
The two wielders of aura forced Nascour onto the Luxo Cruiser; once they were on deck, Naps took off.
They weren't a moment too soon; as they sailed away from the shore, the island shook harder than ever, and Rui and Wes both watched as it began to sink into the sea.
Draco: It only occurs to me after the fact that half of Greevil's team members are Mega-capable Pokémon. And as I mentioned earlier, when I was theorizing new Megas for another Generation VI game, Milotic was one of them. If you don't know who his Mega is in advance and you saw the Key Stone in his intro animation, you'd spend the whole fight trying to anticipate it.
Yes, I'm saying that from experience. During the lead-in to ORAS, I got linked to a promotional bit that mentioned the Hoenn Elite Four was going to have Key Stones and missed the part where that was for the rematches. Sidney has a Sharpedo and Absol, Phoebe has two Banette and a Sableye, Glacia has two Glalie, and Drake has an Altaria and Salamence.
Gameplay-wise, you would control the same person for both the Shadow Lugia and Greevil fights; whoever you were controlling at that time would get knocked out of the Colosseum, and you would control them for the escape sequence. Free heals after each. You've got a timer and no trainers between you and Nascour; if you don't make it to the fight with him before the timer runs out, the game fades to black and boots you to the title screen.
Yes, that implies exactly what you think it does. And don't give me the 'it would never happen', because it happened in Almia.
...The timer does stop for the battle with Nascour, but only because there's no reason to punish the #CherryTapping trainers who skimped on their levelling. Unique event if you get defeated by Nascour; you get the black-out, the healing sounds play over the black screen, and then you start from the post-Greevil cutscene again. (Disable the save option during the escape so you don't end up in an #UnwinnableByMistake situation if you're underlevelled.)