Chapter 18 – Necropolis Battle

There was a clearing outside the cathedral where Jill and her mother stopped to take in the impressive sight. The structure and architecture was stunning. It's gothic design from another time had withstood so many trials. The stones in the area and building the church were steeped in history, a breathtaking monument to human faith. Of course, there was also a somewhat darker side to the story. The necropolis underneath everyone's feet.

Like most of Sinnoh, which had an extensive underground, Hearthome was no different. What was somewhat different in this city, was its use for internment of the deceased. Only those prolific enough to warrant such a place were place beneath the cathedral. And normally it was not open to visitors. That changed when Fantina arrived and eventually became the gym leader. Her bond with ghost types and the spiritual link of the cathedral allowed it to be repurposed as a gym. It was better here than at the lost tower, which of course was not within the city.

Tourists from all over came to see the church. The line today however was even busier in anticipation of the gym match. Fantina loved putting on a show, regardless of gym battle or contest and because of this, she waved the entrance donation for gym matches. This allowed everyone to either see the stained glass and history of the cathedral, or come down to the depths of the earth and witness what her ghost types were capable of.

"Are you nervous?" Johanna asked of her daughter. Jill stood appraising the crowd and didn't answer immediately. To be honest she wasn't sure what all she felt. Ghost types weren't something she really knew how to handle, and not all of her Pokemon were really ready for that challenge. Icarium was weak to ghost type attacks, and while Urim couldn't be affected properly, he also had no real offensive moves in which to strike back with. This left Chase, Caladan and Sphryna. The first two would be no problem, but Sphryna was a different story. The dragon type was powerful, there was no doubt about that. But Jill and she hadn't yet battled in such an important situation yet.

"A little" she finally responded to her mother. "I Chase and Cal are ready, but if they're not enough, well I am a touch worried about Sphryna…" Jill's voice trailed off. A real trainer wouldn't worry about her Pokemon like this. She was sure Arthur never did…

"Oh honey, don't worry, she'll be fine. I remember when Cynthia first showed us her Gible. The little thing was such a handful, we never thought that young girl would ever get it to a battle. But now it's her most powerful companion. And a first battle with a new Pokemon is always a bit nerve wracking, but also exciting. You'll both do wonderfully!"

"Thanks mom. Shall we head in?" Johanna smiled and took the lead. Taking a deep breath, Jill followed suit.

The necropolis was pitch black. Skulls with blank stares looked out upon Jill as she walked down the hallways to the battlefield. The silence was deafening and unnerving. The flickering light of the candle she had been given was a small comfort to the young woman as she made her way forward. The smell of damp earth and rot was rather prevalent and aided to a sense of claustrophobia. Jill now understood why so few trainers wanted to battle Fantina. The woman was clearly insane.

After was seemed like an eternity walking past death, Jill entered a light area, a crowd already milling about. An apprentice appeared out of nowhere, giving Jill a minor heart attack, and a strong urge to belt the young man in the jaw. He took the candle from her and directed her towards the challenger's box. Jill walked forward and took her position.

"Bienvenue! I see you have made it, and now we may begin!" the voice called out. People began cheering as Fantina made her way to the opposite side of the battlefield. She was wearing an elegant deep purple gown, her hair pulled up into a bun of sorts. The look was magnificent and more than one man in the crowd was ogling the gym leader.

"I'm sorry Fantina, I didn't realize this was a dress up match" Jill said to break her nerves. Humour had a way of doing that for the young woman. Fantina however just laughed.

"No no my dear! Since I have come to this country I have learned so many new things. Contests here are so much different and I must become the best no? Just as you try to become the best as a trainer. But this is why I dress as such. One must be willing to; how do you say… become what you see?"

"I think I understand what you're saying" Jill replied. This quick informal chat had done marvels at calming the young trainer. She was definitely ready.

"You look ready! Bien! We shall begin, but I must tell you, I will win!" Fantina said with a twirl. Again another apprentice suddenly appeared as though a ghost to everyone just now showing itself.

"This will be a three on three match. Only the challenger may substitute Pokemon. The victor will be declared once all their opponents Pokemon have been rendered unconscious. Trainers ready?" Both woman nodded. The apprentice waved them on to begin the match.

"I shall begin with a most fitting partner, come out my lovely Duskull!" Fantina cried out as she twirled and released her first Pokemon.

"Alright Cal, you're starting this one off" Jill whispered to her Pokeball before releasing her starter. The grass type thumped loudly off the damp ground.

"We shall start this battle then with our will-o-whisp!" Fantina said with a flourish. Jill grimaced. That attack would steal away Caladan's strength. Ghostly blue flames came to life around the ghost in front of Fantina, and Caladan clearly looked worried. His fear of fire wasn't really gone at all.

"It's alright Cal, I think I know how we can block this. You need to cover yourself with razor leaf" Jill said to reassure her partner. The young woman had no idea if this would work but she just needed to distract the ghost type long enough to launch a counter. The flames danced their way from Duskull towards Caladan who began firing his razor leaf attack in a circle around him.

"A most dazzling defense my dear!" Fantina said as she watched the flames battered away by the leaves. The initial attack wasn't a very strong one for a reason. By lighting up the area around Duskull, Fantina was able to hid the near black Pokemon and use a more offensively based attack.

"Where'd it go?" Caladan said to Jill as they both began searching for their missing opponent. Jill was still seeing little blue flames, meaning her retina's had been overcharged by the flames. She cursed herself for being so careless in the middle of a battle. Suddenly, Caladan seemed to shift and Jill simply called out the only attack that he could use in such close quarters with any efficiency. Caladan opened his wide jaws and latched down onto the helpless ghost which had been trying to sneak in close. It shuddered and flinched at the attack, allowing the grass type to follow up with another bite knocking Fantina's first Pokemon out.

"Magnifique! Such powerful jaws to knock out my lovely Duskull! But we are just starting no?" Fantina said as she returned Duskull and replaced it with a Haunter. A grinning face materialized in front of Jill and Caladan, causing Jill to supress a shudder. These ghosts in this light were starting to cause her problems, and Fantina was right. This battle was really just beginning. There was just something about the light down here that made them hard to track, and the fact that her first Pokemon had come so close to Caladan without either one noticing was worrying to say the least.

"My dear Haunter, please, disappear!" Fantina spread her hands out to the sides and suddenly the ghost type was no where to be seen. Jill was frowning. If this continued, her partner would be knocked out easily enough.

"Caladan return!" Jill finally called out. Still she couldn't see the ghost type, but she had an idea as to who might. "Chase you're up!" she called out, sending out the spark Pokemon.

"Alright! Another battle! Who turned down the lights?" Chase said as he appraised the battlefield.

"Be careful, Fantina already has a Haunter out here. But I can't see it" Jill explained.

"You can't see who I'm supposed to fight? That's not really helpful!" Chase countered as he spread his paws further out and bared his fangs.

"It's time to test that eyesight Chase. I need you to find Haunter and keep an eye on it."

"Use confuse ray!" Fantina said. Haunter revealed itself off to Chase's left and let off a burst of light which circled around the electric types head before disappearing. Chase shook his head and was completely baffled.

Everything was swimming before his eyes. Chase wasn't sure what was going on at all. He was crying out to Jill but nothing was sounding. He nervously lifted one paw and felt the whole world shift to his right. Nothing was right and that grinning face wouldn't stop laughing and moving around and changing colour. What was going on?

"Jill…" He mumbled as he stumbled. A jolt of electricity sent him spinning once more. But what used an electric attack? He spun around looking for his attacker.

"Chase" a voice whispered.

"Who said that?" he called out.

"Close your eyes…" the voice whispered. Scared, he did. Suddenly the world stopped spinning. He was buffeted, but still standing. There was nothing around him.

"Listen to my voice Chase. I'm here and so are the others."

"Jill!" Chase cried out in relief.

"Chase I need you to focus. The Haunter you're battling. He's three strides off to your right getting ready for another attack. You need to fight back. I know you can!"

Eyes popped open and Chase let loose a roar as he lunged, fangs striking true and biting down into the opposing ghost. Jill was sweating and freaking out. That confuse ray had completely battered Chase down. The poor thing was zapping himself. Was this the true power of ghost types? Fantina seemed to be using their natural gifts of instilling fear in this battle. They were worming their way into Jill's conscious, making her doubt herself. She had almost lost Chase!

"My turn now blue. Let's do this!" the electric type said looking back at his trainer. Jill stared into his amber eye and leveled her breathing.

"Right. Can you see him?"

"I got it. You know he tasted disgusting right?" Chase said. That feral smile was there once more centering Jill. "Don't worry blue. I've got you, and you got me. Ready?"

"Finish him Chase." The lynx jumped forward at what looked like nothing. The Haunter materialized again as it attempted to defend itself, to no avail. Chase's fangs bit into the ghost delivering a knock out blow.

"Ah well done! I see that my ghost's natural ability to vanish in the dark is not an obstacle for you!" Fantina said as she recalled her Haunter and Chase went back over to Jill.

"You alright?" Jill asked kneeling down and stroking her electric friend.

"I'm fine blue. Told you I got this."

"Yeah well you had me worried there for a second. Are you okay to continue battling?" Jill asked. Chase grinned.

"You bet I am!" Jill looked up her eyes hardening as Fantina smiled releasing her final Pokemon. Jill didn't immediately recognize the opponent as the final ghost took shape so she pulled out her Pokedex.

"Mismagius, the evolved form of Misdreavus. Its cry sounds like incantation. It is said that the cry may rarely be imbued with happiness-giving power" the dex said. Jill looked up again. It was clear where Fantina was taking her fashion ideas from. The gown and cloak on her Pokemon were quite similar. However, this Pokemon looked powerful. It started murmuring slightly and while Jill couldn't hear it, Chase obviously could. He immediately went rigid and fur stood on end. By staring at it, Jill could've sworn the air was shimmering around the ghost as well. She took a breath and closed her eyes. The crowd was waiting to see who would move first.

"Shadow ball my dear!" Fantina called out, snapping Jill back to reality. Whatever that Mismagius was doing, it was clearly affecting both Jill and Chase. The ghost type began gathering shadows from somewhere. Black streaks coursed down through Mismagius' body and condensed into a ball of black energy which it then launched at Chase. The poor electric type was so confused as to what it was seeing and hearing that he didn't even attempt to dodge. Johanna sitting on the sidelines winced as Chase was thrown back by the force of the attack. Luckily he was able to stand back up on shaky legs.

"Chase we need to keep moving. Don't let it inside your head, and use bite!" Chase growled and put on a burst of speed, cutting the distance down between the opposing Pokemon and himself. Mismagius turned up the attempts to confuse and manipulate Chase as he bounded in. Even Jill began to feel the effects on her own skull. It was as if a team of miners was chiselling away from the inside trying to bore out. She gritted her teeth and Chase's attack fell home. The ghost screamed out in pain as he misting body took on a more corporal substance.

"Use psybeam to get it off" Fantina countered. The jewels on Mismagius began glowing and blasted out a beam of psychic energy which sent Chase sprawling in a heap at Jill's feet.

"Chase!" she screamed out. She took the three steps forward and placed a hand on her friend.

"I can…" Chase huffed. "I can keep go…"

"No that's enough buddy. You did a serious number on it, but now let someone else finish this one." She pulled out his Pokeball and recalled him. Her vision was swimming now and the pounding in her skull was growing in intensity. Even people watching were feeling the effects of the manipulative ghost. And boy did it look angry. Chase's attack must have done more damage than Jill realized. But she needed to end this quickly.

"Alright… Sphryna, you're up!" Tossing the Pokeball out, her new dragon materialized. No longer the small jawed Gible, but all the training before the gym had brought Sphryna to a whole new level of power. Her powerful tail was a perfect counter balance for her new speed, and instead of those tiny arms she used to have, Sphryna now sported more developed appendages, tipped with razor sharp claws. She was far more dangerous now than she had ever been back in those caves. And now Jill was calling upon Sphryna for her first gym battle. It would be glorious!

"Battle! How I've waited to truly test my new power! You shall remember me ghost!" Sphryna yelled as a battle call.

"Sphryna, you know she's a ghost type?" Jill asked. The dragon cocked her head back slightly to regard her trainer.

"One of the older dragons told us about them. He had fought them before in another nesting area. They are not to be trifled with, but they're tricks are useless if one focuses!" The dragon was almost as crazy as Chase. A part of Jill's mind not overcome with a headache wondered what attracted these crazy Pokemon to her side.

"Well then, let's show this ghost what you can do!" Sphyrna lowered into her crouch and took off. Everyone was shocked, including Fantina who couldn't even say anything to get her Pokemon out of harms way. Mismagius was chanting but it didn't appear to be having an affect on the dragon type. Sphryna let he mind go blank in battle, and let the lust take over. It made her more powerful, even as a smaller dragon. Her speed carried her forward and ignored the ghosts attempts to confuse her. At the last possible second, the Mismagius avoided Sphryna's jaws as they clamped down on air. It was then that the battle really took off. Fantina began dancing and commanding her friend with a level of skill that was simply breathtaking. All her contest training was coming out, and the beauty and skill were bewitching. Jill on the other hand, was getting more and more in sync with her relatively newer companion. Sphryna was trusting Jill to tell her where attacks were coming from and when to move in closer.

The crowd and Johanna watched in silence as the two Pokemon danced around the battlefield. Attacks were barely missing both. Johanna was worried for her daughter as it was clear that she was not as used to battling or utilizing Sphryna's speed yet, not as compared to Fantina and her Mismagius. Then came the misstep.

Mismagius reappeared into sight far too close to Sphryna who had used her tail and clawed feet to turn far more quickly than the ghost and its trainer were expecting. Jill's patience had paid off, but her endurance was tapped out. She was moments from collapsing. Sphryna knew her trainer was at her limits, but finally she did not need to be told what to do. Jaws opening, the dragon lunged forward, catching the ghost around the midsection of its misty body. Thumping back down on the ground, Sphryna released her unconscious opponent. The ghost drifted down not making a sound as she settled onto the battlefield. Fantina was stunned. Jill on the other hand was just relieved. The pain and hidden weight which had been building all battle had suddenly lifted. Head clear, she fell to her knees.

"We did it!" Sphryna said crouching down by her trainer. Smiling and laughing lightly, Jill looked up at her friend.

"Yeah we did. You were amazing out there Sphryna. Truly." The dragon beamed down as Jill wrapped her arms around Sphryna's neck. Suddenly a gloved hand appeared. Jill looked up and took Fantina's offering to help her stand.

"This battle was something wonderful Jillian! You were incroyable, tout comme vorte Pokemon. Ah sorry, I must speak the proper language no? As the gym leader of Hearthome gym, I present to you the relic badge!" Jill looked down at the badge Fantina was placing in her hand. It was simple, just three silver circles connected by lines and filled in with a deep purple.

"Thank you Fantina. Although, I don't think I'll be battling ghosts anytime soon."

She was walking down a forest path. It was dark, not even moonlight coming through the trees, and yet she could see just fine. There was something foreboding in the air however, something that had Jill's nerves on end. She was looking all around her for some sign but there was nothing. Reaching down, she made to grab for one of her Pokeballs, only to find they were missing. Now her mind was really starting to race.

'Worthy?' the voice whispered out from the trees.

"Who's there?!" Jill called out. A rustling came from ahead. Slowly, the young woman moved forward.

'You were supposed to make us better!' a more familiar voice called out. Jill looked around and screamed. There at the base of a tree lay Sphryna covered in blood, gashes all along the dragon's scaled body.

"No!" the young trainer screamed rushing forward. Just as she was about to reach her fallen partner however, the apparition was gone. Breathing frantically, Jill turned about.

'Interesting how the world we live in has come to be' another voice said. Jill knew this one as well, belonging to the man in the cave.

"What do you mean?" Jill asked still trying to slow her racing heart. Another shape materialized in front of. This time it was a group of shadowy people standing over a much larger Epona. The horse was screaming in pain and it was clear a bone was sticking out from the skin of her front leg.

"Epona!" Jill cried out. Tears were blurring the young woman's vision as she ran forward. Then suddenly it wasn't just Epona. It was everyone. Chase, Urim, Icarium. And Caladan. The grass type looked up but his face transformed causing Jill to scream as glowing red eyes and a black mass began forming in front.

'Ghosts in your world hold power over the mind. Be calm child' the ancient voice said. Something about it bespoke power, and caused Jill to pause and stare. 'You are different. Let not the wanderings of your mind take root. There is power within you. Still…' The massed seemed to be wondering aloud, but Jill wasn't sure what it was doing here. Without warning however, it rushed forward at Jill. She was about to scream once more, but the blackness overtook her.

Jillian's Pokemon:
Caladan (Grotle) - level 25, ability: Overgrow, nature: Bashful
Chase (Luxio) - level 24, ability: Intimidate, nature: Impish
Epona (Ponyta) - level 24, ability: Run Away, nature: Naughty
Urim (Togepi) - level 15, ability: Serene Grace, nature: Brave
Sphryna (Gabite) - level 24 ability: Sand Veil, nature: Naive
Icarium (Ralts) - level 17, ability: Trace, nature: Lonely

Battle came really close. Chase almost bit it and so did Sphryna thanks to that bloody Mismagius. Anyways hope you enjoyed and let you know what you think