Chapter 40 – Spear Pillar
Blades cut through the air in a slowing circle. Snow settled on the ground as the side door opened and Cyrus stepped out to a formed contingent of men. In unison, the led the CEO and his two commanders towards the mountain. The entire assigned mountain team was waiting at attention and fell in line as Cyrus made his was up towards his goal. Saturn had done well Cyrus noted, if briefly. The small cave at the entrance of the mountain had been carved out, and a lift leading up to another fresco installed. Cyrus, Mars and Jupiter ascended towards the picture. Stepping off, they faced a massive stone slab. Now it was time to reap the rewards of his hard work. Cyrus extended his right arm, the one containing the chain.
The picture began glowing at the presence of the lake guardians' auras. A pyramid shone first, larger than a man. At its three corners, circles. Two of the circles lit up with bright red light, one looking much like a wheel, the other, a circle within a circle. Then the middle symbol of the picture lit up. Jupiter quickly recognized the Flower of Life before Cyrus clenched his fist.
The three gems within the chain around the CEO's arm pulsed. A loud crack, like a shotgun blast sounded out, fracturing the fresco. Cyrus pulled his arm away, tearing the rock with it, scattering it around the entrance to the now exposed tunnel.
Carolina stared down at the shattered fresco. Before her opened a dark tunnel, leading to the terrorist's destination. What the professor couldn't wrap her head around was how this had never been discovered before. Yet when she appraised the broken stone in front of her, all the signs were there. The scuff of a shoe on rock caused Carolina to stand up. Cynthia quickly studied the broken stone and then the tunnel ahead.
"Why couldn't we simply fly to the top?" the champion asked her grandmother.
"There must be some type of wards in place. Something to hide its true location. There are symbols here, ones that I believe mean Palkia and Dialga." Cynthia turned her gaze back down to where Carolina was indicating. The symbol on the rock was a spoke wheel. Or something like a wheel still holding onto its blue colour. The broken rocks made it hard to see the original picture, however. "They called the ruins at the top, Spear Pillar. It was there that the ancients worshiped the Gods of Creation."
"Not Gods…" Cynthia said quietly.
"Perhaps, perhaps not." Carolina looked at her granddaughter. "Spear Pillar is a convergence point. It is the place where the legendary Palkia and Dialga left this plane. It's possible that even Arceus left there."
"That's why you need to stay here." Cynthia said in a stern voice as she turned to those who were accompanying her.
"And you need to be careful." There was something about the soft-spoken statement that made the champion turn back to face her grandmother.
"I will."
"These aren't regular Pokemon Cynthia. If the stories are true, they were here in the beginning. Masters of time and space…" Carolina feared for her granddaughter.
"We'll stop them." Two men stepped forward. And the girl who would not be denied.
"Alright, it's just us left. The authorities have started their climb, but we need to get in there and stop Cyrus before he does something irreversible."
"Don't worry champion, we're with you" Palmer said. For once, his tone was nothing but serious. Cynthia locked eyes with her cousin. Jill simply nodded.
The ruins were magnificent. Even though time and nature had attempted to reclaim them, the structure remaining was a testament to the ancient peoples of Sinnoh. Stones were fit together so seamlessly, it was like walking on glass. Pure white pillars reached into the sky, though many were broken at the top, their broken shards scattered across the floor. Above the three Galactic members, the night sky approached, stars twinkling into existence. The suns retreat beyond the horizon created a golden sunset. A sunset viewed from these ruins hadn't been seen in living memory.
Jupiter was astounded by the history contained here. That the ancients could have built this monument here of all places seemed impossible. She was also awash with excitement as everything they had been building towards was at hand. Slowly the three climbed the steps towards the central area of the chamber. Everything was silent save for the clicking of heels upon the marble. Jupiter looked down as the dusty floor betrayed a different colour. She stopped and knelt, brushing away the dust with her hand. A blood red line ran across the floor. Frowning she broke away from Cyrus and Mars to a corner of the old chamber. Before her was again a symbol, similar to the one seen on the fresco guarding the summits path. A shout broke the silence, causing all three Galactic members to turn back towards the entrance to the ancient chamber.
"We begin. Do not allow them to interfere!" Cyrus commanded. Mars looked towards Jupiter, a feral grin on her face. The two women turned towards the top of the steps, awaiting whoever it was making the racket below. What they weren't expecting was the woman who emerged.
Jill climbed the last of the steps. What seemed like the entire organization was fighting the few trainers below. Cynthia had pushed Jill to the summit as she and her Garchomp faced off against four grunts. Jill steeled herself as she climbed, but also was awed by the grandeur in the simplicity of the chamber which she had entered. The climb had been grueling. So many people had come together to fight back the champion, Jill, Palmer and Lucian. That Cyrus had recruited so many shocked the young trainer.
But at last she had reached the summit. Before her stood the remaining two commanders. Jill could just make out Cyrus, back turned, behind the women. Whatever it was that Cyrus wanted to do, he was just about to start, meaning Jill still had time to stop them.
"I'm surprised you actually made it here." Mars was appraising the young woman. Jill glared at her. "Cyrus has almost accomplished his goal though. And you're not going to meddle in this anymore." Jill quickly glanced at Mars' hand, seeing the Pokeball the commander was holding. Jupiter had copied the action. Jill took a moment to catch her breath before drawing her own Pokeball. Her entire team had already been battling, but they had to do this.
"Need some help kiddo?" Jill whirled around at the familiar face that had arrived behind her. Palmer was grinning, though sweat was making tracks down his dirt covered face. Jill smiled, turning back towards the two commanders.
"You look familiar. Didn't I already deal with you at Lake Acuity?" Jupiter asked, frowning slightly.
"Ah so you're the bitch who hurt my son. I'm going to make you pay for that." Palmers voice was deadly serious. It sent a shiver down Jill's spine. Never before had she heard Palmer talk like that.
"Your son was weak. And in this world, it's only the strong who survive."
"If you really believe that, I feel sorry for you. But I'm not going to let you get away with it!" Palmer threw out his Pokemon. Jill knew what was coming before either commander did as a massive dragon burst forth roaring out its trainers' displeasure. Jill was right behind Palmer in releasing Icarium. The fighting type was composed as he always was facing a new battle. The commanders did not waste time in releasing their Pokemon.
The Dragonite was the fastest, streaking across the stone to slam into Mars' Stuntank. The skunk cried out in pain as it was slammed into the floor. Icarium was right on the Dragonite's tail, dancing around the Purugly on the field, raining blows down on the feline without mercy. Jill and Palmer were quick to call out commands, covering one another as they evaded strikes. Before, when Jill had faced the Galactic commanders, they had seemed powerful. But together with Palmer, a true trainer, they were overwhelmed. Jill heard steps and quickly turned, only to find Cynthia and Lucian appearing. Both Galactic commanders realized what it meant.
"You can't stop us!" Mars shrieked. Her voice was high, a sign of her hysteria. Jupiter was also worried. Even together, they would not be enough to stop a Battle Tycoon, an Elite Four member and the champion. Just when both women thought it was over however, Cyrus finally turned.
"Enough!" His voice cut out across the chamber, silencing everything.
Even now, in his moment of glory, Cyrus felt no emotion. Here on the precipice of everything he could have ever wanted, the tipping point in which the world would change to match that which he believed perfection, he was empty inside.
"Long ago the ancients built this monument to worship the gods. But even then, our species was a poison to this world. We have long polluted this planet. When I was younger, I believed that there could be a way to change us for the better." Everyone before the Galactic leader was silent watching him. Cyrus' cold gaze swept over everyone, locking eyes with the blue of the tycoon's coloured in anger for what happened to his son. The deep violet of the Elite Four members whose eyes were tired from exhaustion. The two commanders who were brimming with happiness that wasn't theirs. The single visible cold grey of the champions who knew what Cyrus intended but was powerless to stop. And finally, to the emerald green of the young woman who had put herself directly in Cyrus' way to prevent him from achieving his goals. It was to her that he was speaking. For of everyone here, something about her, Cyrus knew, had her being the closest person to stopping Cyrus. But she too was too late.
"Finally, everything is ready to create my new world. At first, I thought technology alone could do so. But we humans are so easily fallible with power. At the slightest taste, we yearn for more, creating imbalance. This emotion, this spirit of greed, we need to be rid of it. And so, I turned to the ancient stories of our region. I have found a way to blend the old with the new." Cyrus held up his hands and turned around from everyone. In his palms, was a black ring, with three red pulsing lights. Cyrus spoke up, so that even the gods would heed him.
"With this Red Chain, I will pry open the portals to another dimension!" Cyrus lifted his hands up, the Chain lifting off as well, and beginning to spin. "Dialga, the master of time!" the leader roared. "And Palkia, the master of space! Hear my call!" The Chain began spinning faster and moved away from Cyrus, aligning itself vertically. "To shape this world, it is a binding of both time and space! The very essence of your natures! You will do my bidding! I will create a new world, one devoid of emotion, devoid of spirit. We shall right the wrongs of everyone. I shall cleanse the world!" Cyrus turned back around, seeing the young woman who had constantly battled against Team Galactic while on her journey. Wind was picking up, and pressure seemed to be building as the Chain spun faster and faster, ripping open the world's fabric.
"No!" Jill yelled stepping forward. Cyrus grinned.
"I control the powers of Dialga and Palkia now!" The Chain split in two, ripping open red wounds in the sky. Dual cries were heard, as slowly, the two beasts of legend were pulled through the rents. Jill was astounded as how large they were. The two Pokemon were pulled into the chamber, creating such a pressure that everyone was grasping at their heads in pain save Cyrus. He walked forward and lifted Jill's chin so she could see him eye to eye.
"I am resetting this world to zero" he said in a quieter voice. "You who have been a thorn in our side, constantly interfering… You shall be forgiven." Cyrus could see the confusion in Jill's eyes. "I am going to rip away the spirit of everything. It is the only way. I found humanities answer in the machines I built. Without soul, there can be no emotion. Without emotion, there can be no strife. I will create a utopia."
"Then you never understood what it means to be human" Jill countered through gritted teeth.
"I understand that we are flawed, and to fix those flaws, I must create anew."
"You are not a god to say what is and isn't allowed. You alone do not get to decide what is right and what it wrong. What you've done to get here, the people and Pokemon you've hurt… I won't let you hurt anyone else!" Jill pushed herself away from Cyrus, grabbing her Torterra's Pokeball. Cyrus was frowning because it appeared the young woman wasn't feeling the effects of the two legends behind him. Then he felt it. Another presence. Jill felt it too. She recognized it but couldn't tell from where.
"What's…?" Cyrus was cut off by the cries of the two legendary beasts. Palkia's gleaming red eyes whirled around at the Red Chain with was suddenly and violently ripped apart by two inky black arms. Jill's eye's widened as she remembered those arms. The young woman looked down, seeing a pooling black mass forming in the middle of the chamber.
"No!" shouted Cyrus. "Dialga, Palkia, I command you to stop this!" The two roared. The crystal in the middle of Dialga's chest glowed blue as time began to slow in the chamber, while Palkia's crystals alighted with a pink colour, warping the pillars around the chamber. Before either could unleash their attack however, a third cry cut through the air, stopping both legendary beasts. Slowly, out of the black mass, another form began to appear.