(?'s PoV)
She glanced down once again at her Pokeballs, her six Pokeballs, rusted and worn, the signs of heavy usage.
"Duu duduuu du de duuu… doo de doo… dun dun dun doo doo de dooo~…" She sang mournfully, knowing that the final battle was approaching, and it was a battle she knew would challenge her and her team to the very core.
"Do de do de dooooo~…. Doo doo de dooo~…"
Out of curiosity she looked up at the opening in the roof and subconsciously judged the opening. After that she returned to staring at the floor.
"Duu duduuu du de duuu… doo de doo…" She hummed mournfully again, tapping the song that she remembered so very well.
=Chapter 46, A Legend's Final Stand, The Sixth of Six=
(Jacob's PoV, Mt. Pyre)
"Look at the sky you guys!" Jacob said as he and his team finally left the mountain graveyard for the outside.
(It's beautiful Jacob.) Sara said as she walked forward behind him as well, followed swiftly by Harold and the others.
"Sceptiiiiile…" Harold whispered in awe as he looked out as well.
The night sky was absolutely perfectly clear, not a single cloud was in sight as the twilight hour approached. Already the stars were beginning to appear as brief twinkles of light as the colors of the night and day began melding from one into the other, as if the sky were trying to figure out which time it wanted to be. The moon was also poking and shining down upon their world, shining as a bright white disk in the sky.
(Wow, the sky never looked this amazing back on Southern Island master!) Latias said as she floated next to them.
"Grwarrw." Ivan barked as he sat down.
"Swellooow…" Roran chirped in boredom.
"Pfftbt?" Kenna neighed as she walked up to the Cliffside as well.
"Miloooo?" Coral said as she slithered alongside.
They looked out at the sky and breathed the clean air again, happy to be outside from the morbid place that was Mt. Pyre. Yet while he was just happy to be breathing fresh air, Sara reminded him that they were in a graveyard.
(Jacob, we still have another level to go before we meet with that girl.) She said sadly.
"I know Sara but, this view…" He said, returning his gaze back to the sky as they stood on the side of Mt. Pyre. "I'll give this girl one thing, she knows how to make a setting…"
They had spent the last several hours climbing and walking from one staircase to the next, trying their best to avoid glancing at the many, 'many' graves that the mountain was home to. The first level alone held at least over a hundred and fifty in just the first section of the first floor alone, beyond that there were at least a dozen more sections with equally high numbers of graves.
(I don't understand why she wants to meet us here of all places.) Latias said as she floated out over the cliff to look at him in the eye. (I don't like it here, why does she want to meet us here?)
"I don't either Latias..." He said back as he looked back at the mountain, and saw that it was still a very long way up toward where the orbs were said to have been enshrined. "Why a graveyard, in every other place we've spoken to her, or Missy for that matter, it was somewhere special or at least better looking. A graveyard is the last place I would want to teach anyone anything."
"Sceptile…" Harold asked as he walked next to him and stood on his rear legs, his tree tail swaying from side to side. (I don't understand…)
"Well, we won't understand standing around here you guys, so let's get going." He said as he walked along the narrow path along the outside of the mountain.
With him leading the way his team followed suit, all of them looking this way and that way as the sun continued to set.
As they climbed he saw that as the sun set, more ghost Pokemon began appearing. During their climb through the graveyards he had seen swarms of Shuppets just floating around, occasionally smirking at him as he and his team passed, but strangely none of them challenged him.
He suspected that because his entire team were out, they didn't want to fight him, but Sara said that she didn't sense 'any' hostilities toward him from them, and he trusted her psychic powers far more now that she evolved.
But he also was curious as to why she was making sure to stay 'close' to him as they walked. Even now as they walked, she was in elbow's reach of his side, only Harold was closer and he was on his other side but at a longer distance.
(Is something wrong Jacob?) Sara asked privately.
*Why are you so close?* He thought as they walked, knowing she wanted their conversation private.
(Its… in my nature… I'm sorry Jacob…) She said awkwardly. (My species is extremely protective of our trainers…)
*It's alright Sara, I can understand why.* He said just as awkwardly. *It's just… you won't be 'this' close to me all the time… right?*
(Uhm…) She said even more quietly, and as he glanced over he saw her blush ever so slightly as she shifted her glance. (I'll… try… but what about sleeping?)
*I guess… we can sleep together as normal?* He said as he thought about what she said. *But we can't sleep like we used to, now that you're fully evolved…*
(I'm going to miss sleeping on your chest…) She said. (I am a little too… tall for that now... but can I still hold your hand like I used to when we slept together?)
*I suppose so…* He thought as they continued to climb, feeling very awkward about the conversation, and through their psychic link Sara was also feeling awkward about it.
(This is going to take some… getting used to. I wonder if my mother was… like this with my dad…)
*I'm sure she was just as protective of him.* He replied before realizing his mistake.
Unfortunately it was too late because just as he thought that, they heard a cackling giggle of laughter from ahead of them. They all looked and saw Missy waving at them with a massive grin on her face.
"I thought she said that the last time we'd see her was down below?" He commented as Missy waved at them.
(I guess Missy is so insane that she doesn't even remember her own promises?) Sara asked just as annoyed as him.
They continued to climb higher before they reached her floating outside of the entrance of a cave that lead into what looked like another level of the graveyard. However the further in he looked, the more rubble and rock he could see strewn about the floor.
(Hehehe, hi there!) Missy said with a chuckle, flipping around as she looked gleefully at them. (Here we are, final stretch, ready to go?)
"I guess we are." He said, looking at his team who all nodded proudly.
(Very well… in you go…) Missy said, but as she did she frowned sadly. (This is the last you see of her you know… succeed today and you'll never meet… never again. Are you sure you are ready to face her final trial?)
Something about the way Missy spoke caused him to think of changing his mind, it was as though the Mismagius were trying to 'convince him' to say no. Sara even told him that Missy felt 'afraid', not at the prospect of Jacob succeeding in his final trial with her, but of the girl being defeated. "Yea, we're ready…" He said at last.
Missy frowned sadly before backing up and nodding at the cave entrance. (In you go… Missy must not follow you… my task is done… the final trial is yours to take.) She declared in a sad but proud voice. (You will be tested, more than I can do… her team against yours, how it always should be… remember your lessons, you'll need all of them you see. She is stronger than you know, stronger than you believe… she taught you everything you know… but not everything 'she' knows.)
He nodded and with his team behind him, walked past Missy as she watched them go, almost as if she longed to be with them as well. Then as Ivan walked past last and they all turned simultaneously to look at her one last time, Missy vanished.
(I don't sense her… anymore.) Sara said in surprise. (I was able to sense her before, ever since I evolved Jacob… but now it's like I can't sense her anymore.) Then she turned and looked into the abandoned floor and looked around, and through their link he sensed her confusion. (Now I sense… 'Her'… I can sense 'her' now.)
"You mean mystery girl?" He asked her as he led the way past more graves, though there were far more pieces of rubble.
The room was extremely spacious, but at the same time there was rubble and pieces of stonework, evidence of a cave in. Though there were a lot of graves littering the room, the graves themselves seemed to be sparse by comparison to the rocks and stones.
(Yes… she's close by.) Sara whispered quietly.
"Groar?" Ivan barked as he ran ahead and sniffed the air anxiously.
"What is it Ivan?" Jacob asked as they reached him.
In response he looked up and they all saw a massive hole in the roof high above them, which gave them all a perfect view of the starry sky outside. He also saw what looked like pieces of old walls just barely at the edge of the lips of the opening, and the broken pieces of wall seemed to have images or drawings on them. But they were so far away that he couldn't make out any of the images clearly.
"Didn't Segan say something about the roof of this mountain collapsing years ago?" Jacob asked his team.
(Yea… and he also said that the great orbs of power that were enshrined here were moved to different places, sent to Saphire and Ruby for safe keeping.) Latias said as she floated next to Ivan. (He also said that the chimney collapsed and crushed two floors… so this is where it collapsed?)
"Sceptile Scept…" Harold said. "That explains the stones…"
"It's so dark down here." He said as he tried looking around, but even with the perfect view of the sky, he could barely see anything around them.
Kenna stepped forward automatically and seemed to scrunch her face in concentration, before her flames expanded, giving them more light to see around them.
Jacob looked down and saw what looked like more pieces of stonework and rubble. "Sceptile!" Harold shouted to get his attention. "I found something!"
"Pfftb?" Kenna neighed as she and the others walked forward. "What is it?"
They all watched as he picked up a slab of broken stonework, and it bore what looked like a faded painting on it. On it was some kind of 'triangle', sitting between two symbols. One looked like an upside down U, and the other looked like a sideways lower case 'A'.
"I don't recognize those symbols… but I swear they seem familiar." He said.
(I know those symbols!) Latias shouted excitedly. (There were a pair of Eon Pokemon back home who talked about them! They're the symbols for Alpha and Omega! They're the symbols representing the Ancient Pokemon, Kyogre and Groudon!)
"Kyogre and Groudon?" Jacob asked. "Yes now I remember… the orbs, the orbs had these two symbols on them. But what's the third one represent?"
(I don't know… I only remember the alpha and omega symbols.) Latias said with a sad expression.
(Jacob…) Sara whispered suddenly, getting their attention once again.
They looked up and saw she was staring at what looked like the center of the collapsed chimney, where a huge indent in the floor was, surrounded by massive sections of rubble and destroyed pieces of floor and stonework. Just as they watched the moonlight shone through the roof, and a silvery beam of light shone down and lit up the center of the area.
As if drawn to it, Jacob led the way once more toward it, with Kenna releasing her concentration and letting her flames return to normal.
Five minutes later they climbed over the rubble and stared at the center of it, where below them was the mysterious girl once again, her back turned to them as she stared at her six rusted Pokeballs. In front of her was what looked like a ghost Pokemon, if he remembered correctly it was a Banette, around its neck was a necklace, with a shiny stone as the centerpiece. Upon his seeing them the Banette smiled and waved, before spinning around and vanishing.
There was silence as she hummed some tune to herself, before she stopped humming.
"Tell me Trainer… do you know what this place is?" She asked quietly, still not turning to look at him.
"It's Mt. Pyre, the resting place of those in Hoenn… and where the Red and Blue orbs were once housed." He replied.
Silence again as she nodded in response. "Yes… that is 'one' answer I suppose… it is a 'correct' answer." She said sadly. "Tell me Trainer… in your journeys and travels, have you witnessed Mega Evolution."
"Yea, we have… and it's the most amazing and beautiful thing we've ever seen." Jacob said as he and the other members of his team nodded in agreement.
Once more, silence as she nodded in understanding. "Yes… it is beautiful isn't it?" She asked, though she didn't seem to be asking him. "From the outside it looks amazing… but when you use it, it is a very different feeling."
She sighed and held up her wrist, as if trying to see something on it that wasn't there. "The only way to achieve Mega Evolution, to go beyond the normal state or the evolved form of a Pokemon, it must achieve a bond greater than any other bond between itself and its Trainer. Because of this… only a select few can truly achieve this state." She continued to stare at her wrist before lowering it again. "When one achieves this evolution… one is truly in sync with their Pokemon, and they become exceptionally close to one another. To cause one of them harm, is to harm the other, and when one of them is harmed the other will fight all the more fiercely to protect the one harmed…"
She turned to look at him and his team, and for a moment he thought he saw tears from behind her mask, but then she turned around again. "You are lucky trainer… to possess such a bond with your Pokemon. They care and respect you greatly, even as they stand here, with you at ease, they stand ready to fight and protect you with all of their might and heart. With just your word they will do anything you ask… if you suggest it and they had the power, they would take all the glory of the world and place it at your feet, as their gift to you."
She sighed once again as she reached for her Pokeballs and placed them on her belt, one at a time. "Tell me Trainer… do you truly want the power of Mega Evolution?" She asked him.
"Yes… we need it." He said, reaching into his bag and pulling out the Keystone in the box, expecting her to demand it.
Instead she stood up and stared up at the sky, almost as if unconcerned with him. "Do you know what happens when one performs Mega Evolution?" She asked solemnly.
As one they shook their heads, never once been asked that question.
"The bond you share… the bond you now have… the bond that you have built together through trials of friendship and trust, of love and compassion, of companionship and unity. Tell me Trainer… this bond… do you treasure it?"
"Yea… of course we do." He said, now thoroughly confused along with his team. "You showed us this bond, how it connects us and makes us stronger together. Without you we could never have come this far. Why are you asking us these questions?"
She remained silent to his questions before she turned around to face them. "Because… when one performs Mega Evolution, the power of your bond is channeled through the stones of power, connected to both Trainer and Pokemon. In the explosive energy that transfers from one to the other, enabling the Pokemon to evolve even further, to gain even greater power… the bond that connects both, is temporarily severed… once you Mega Evolve, the Pokemon that evolves cannot use the power of the bond you created with them." She said. "In order to obtain that power, it draws that power from you both, especially the Trainer, and channels it into the Pokemon, enabling it the power to protect its Trainer… because such a severing is so painful to the Pokemon, that it will use its full power to ensure it regains that bond at the battle's end. Despite the outcome, the small moment of pain, pushes the Pokemon to fight beyond its normal capabilities, beyond any 'normal' Pokemon's capabilities." She tilted her head almost sadly. "Does this sound, 'familiar', to you?"
"The Shadow Pokemon…" He whispered. "They push themselves beyond what they're capable of…"
She nodded. "Yes… the dark power you speak of, is the same as Mega Evolution, but it is far darker and far more painful… for it is not built on the power of the bond you and your team now possess… but in order to combat this power, you need the power of Mega Evolution. However the bond you create becomes slightly damaged because of it, yet through time and companionship, trust and care, it can be mended and the damage repaired. This is my final trial… are you sure you want this power… if you are sure, then place the Keystone on your arm and wear the badge of power with pride… if you do not want the power of Mega Evolution… then leave the Keystone here… and walk away. The choice… is yours."
He looked at his team, and all of them, Kenna, Coral, Ivan, Roran, Latias, Sara, and Harold, nodded in agreement. They all wanted him to go through with it, and they were behind him every step of the way.
He nodded as well, and opened the Keystone's box and stared at the glimmering stone, shining brilliantly as it responded to his call. After a few moments of staring he had Harold hold the box while he lifted it up gently, and slowly slid the bracelet onto his arm. The metal of the bracelet easily fit onto his arm, and he saw that the tree that pinned the Keystone between its tip and the base resembled Harold's tail, just as Jessy's necklace resembled the crest of a Blaziken.
"Very well… then here is my final trial Trainer." The girl said as she got his attention again. "My final lesson… the power of your bond gives you great power, but with this great power comes the struggle of self-restraint. You must learn to use it as you see fit, because not all Trainers have this power you possess, whether it is the power of the bond you and your team share, or the power of the stones you and your team wear, you must learn to restrain yourself and use it when needed. Else you will soon grow to rely on it solely, and you will then begin to tread down a dark path that will only lead to the corruption of the bond you have forged." She backed up and reached for one of her Pokeballs, and held it between two fingers as she stared at him from across the epicenter of the collapsed chimney. "Prepare yourself Trainer, for now we battle, your team against mine… let our battle begin and if you succeed, the Keystone is yours forever more!"
=Pokemon Brendan/May Battle=
"Alright then…" He said as he backed up with his team. "Roran, you're up!"
"Swellooooow!" Roran screeched as he took to the air and flapped, waiting for their first opponent.
"Breloom, I choose you!" The girl shouted as she threw the ball into the air, and released her Pokemon, a Breloom just like Karen's Shrew.
"Breloom!" It shouted as it stood on its two legs, bouncing slightly as it waited for battle.
"Breloom, Mach Punch!" She shouted.
"Roran, Aerial Ace!" Jacob said.
Roran nodded and flew low and fast, just as the Breloom charged forward and threw the first punch at Roran. The first hit landed and Roran took it hard, but just as he took the hit he counter attacked and sliced at Breloom with his wing.
Breloom recoiled from the attack and his momentum carried him forward, but he leapt up despite the pain he showed on his face.
"Breloom, Spore!" She shouted again calmly.
"Brelooooooooom!" Breloom yelled as he pointed his mushroom helmet head at Roran, and sent a cloud of fast moving spores meant to put him to sleep at him.
"Roran, dodge it!" He tried to scream, but before he could utter a word Roran reacted.
"Sweloow!" Roran screeched and flew fast to avoid the cloud, barely avoiding it by the tips of his feathers.
(It's the bond, he sensed your worry without even being a psychic type!) Sara said in amazement.
"Alright then, Roran, counter again with Aerial Ace!"
"Swelloooow!" Roran screamed as he flew at the Breloom.
Yet without a word the Breloom jumped and somehow 'avoided' the attack, just as Roran tried to swipe at him while he passed by.
"Breloom, Thunder Punch!" She shouted.
"Breloooom!" Breloom yelled as one of his claws crackled with electricity and he ran forward, attempting to deliver a powerful punch to Roran.
"Dodge it Roran!" Jacob said, but this time Roran couldn't dodge it in time, and he felt the powerful sting of the attack.
Roran was knocked upward and nearly lost his grip on flying, but he managed to hold on and regained his stance. He glared furiously at the Breloom, as if furious about being hit by a Pokemon that he had a great advantage in type over. (He's not too happy about that Jacob.) Sara said in surprise. (He really doesn't like being hurt by a grass or a fighting type… he wants to fight even more now…)
"That's it Roran, don't give in, get back in there with Brave Bird!" Jacob yelled.
"Sweloow!" Roran yelled in fury as he took flight and flew right at the opposing Breloom, his body glowing brightly as if wrapped in golden flames.
He flew right at the Breloom and smacked him hard at great speed, and forced himself to slow down so he wouldn't collide with the wall on the opposite side. He turned slowly and panted heavily as he watched the Breloom fall to the floor and began struggling to get back up.
"Bre… looooom." He moaned and gasped as his arms shook violently, trying to push himself up.
"Breloom!" The girl shouted, almost desperately. "Get up Breloom, get up, this battle isn't over yet, get back up!"
"Bre… loom." He moaned in pain, still trying to get back up at his trainer's command.
Then he turned his head toward his trainer, and smiled, almost happily, before collapsing to the ground.
Jacob expected the girl to recall her Breloom into her Pokeball, but as she held it up, as if preparing to do that, it began to glow a dim white. Then, as if by some strange miracle, the Pokeball began to vanish, disintegrating into a shower of golden flakes. As the Pokeball vanished, Breloom glowed white as well, and he too began to disappear into a showering cascade of white lights, which flew upward into the sky, vanishing as the golden specks scattered into the distance.
"Breloom…" The girl whispered as she looked into the sky, and her mouth turned into a smile. "You've finally been beaten my old friend… go on… rest now… your battle is over… at long last…"
"What just happened?" Jacob asked loudly. "What happened to Breloom, where is he?"
The girl still smiled and looked over at him. "He has passed on… at long last, he has passed on." She said. "Let the battle continue Trainer, you have proven yourself a worthy foe. At long last we can finally be 'free'!"
"What are you talking about?" Jacob yelled, before Sara suddenly gave him a sense of clarity.
(I understand… I know why I never could sense her before!) She said, turning to look at him with shock written on her face. (It's not a normal 'human' I've been sensing for now… she's a ghost… a 'ghost type' human.)
"A 'ghost'… you mean she's…" He asked her.
=Zinnia's sorrow theme=
"Yes… Trainer… I am as your Gardevoir tells it… I am a ghost." The girl said sadly. "My name… is Emerald… I was once a trainer like you… over fifty years ago. Years ago, I came here to train… but I never left here alive…"
She looked up at him and this time he saw the tears in her eyes, streaming down her face as she smiled happily at him.
"My team and I came here, over fifty years ago to train… but we were caught in an accident, the mountain collapsed and we were trapped here." She said as she looked down and stepped back, and he saw what she was standing on before. "I still remember the smoke rising from Mt. Chimney, the smell of the sea on Route 118, the smell of the trees in Fortree City, the sight of the ocean at Dewford Town, the sounds of the hustle and bustle of Slateport City's market. I can still hear the song I once heard on Southern Island, the dreams and words that spoke to me… but it all ended when I came here…"
Just barely visible between two slabs of debris, was a single shred of cloth, with a green coloration that had turned partially white with age. Yet it still had the same pattern the girl's headband had.
"When it happened, the ghost Pokemon here, sensed what had happened to us, but I could not save my team… and their Pokeballs were damaged in the accident, they were dying even as I died with them. So the many Shuppets combined their powers… and saved us… preserving our memories and minds, our bodies… to keep us alive for as long as we could. But we wandered as ghosts, we learned that we could not join the world again, for we were nothing but spirits, invisible to them. It drove us to despair, for what was the point of existing if we could not be noticed or seen. We decided then, to find a way to become visible… to anyone, anything… and I came up with the plan… to use the Keystone to find one who would find us!"
She looked at the Keystone on his arm and smiled. "You succeeded, but you were not ready at the time to defeat us, so we tested you, we taught you… we prepared you… because we cannot pass on to the next life until we have accepted our defeats. We gave you the lessons, and the knowledge that we learned, so that we have no more regrets when the time came for us to leave at last. We needed you to be ready to defeat us… and you are finally ready to challenge us. Now… my team… we can finally be free."
"Sceptile?" Harold asked. "What Happened?"
"Yea… what happened to you?" Jacob asked as well. "How did this happen to you? Your Blaziken seemed almost… unbeatable to us."
She smiled warmly, but still looked sad behind her mask. "I wish I could answer, but as the years passed… our memories degraded… we barely remember who we once were now. I can still remember those vague sensations, but even they are becoming harder and harder to remember. I no longer am who I once was, but I still remember all that I am… a Trainer, and my team remembers who they are as well… and that is why we want to be free, now more than ever, while we still can remember."
(Free… you mean you 'want' to no longer exist?) Latias asked in wonder. (But why… you're so powerful… you're so… strong and…)
"Yea, as Latias says, you guys are so good, why do you want to pass on or…?"
The girl shook her head, still smiling warmly. "Our time was fifty years ago… let those whose time has passed rest in peace, and let those whose time has yet to come rise to the occasion. Please… continue battling me… defeat my team… I beg of you now Trainer, defeat us in honorable battle so that we may finally rest in peace!"
She pulled out her next Pokeball and held it up with a hopeful smile, and her voice began cracking as she talked. "Please… we're so tired of existing… we're so tired of fighting… we've fought for over fifty years! I'm begging you Trainer… please… end our journey at long last! Only by being defeated can we pass on… we've been waiting for so long to be free of our bonds. Give us the salvation we've been wanting… begging for… give us the battle we want so that we can finally end our journey the way it should have!"
He looked over at Sara, and then Harold, and they both nodded in agreement. Sara herself was in full agreement, and by the looks of the rest of his team, they were as well. Even Kenna nodded in understanding and acceptance.
=Battle Zinnia's Theme=
"Then let the battle continue!" Jacob said, as he turned to Ivan who nodded in understanding. "Ivan, you're up!"
"Graaaaawr!" Ivan roared proudly as he leapt forward to take Roran's place, even as Roran flew over and landed next to Kenna, panting heavily.
"Raichu, I choose you!" Emerald yelled enthusiastically, releasing her next Pokemon.
"Raichu!" Raichu yelled, his tail swinging from side to side as the lightning bolt end twitched with electrical surges.
Ivan bared his fangs menacingly and Raichu faltered in his stance only slightly, but resumed it quickly again as Emerald gave out her next orders. "Raichu, Fake Out!"
"Rai!" Raichu yelled as it leapt forward and smacked Ivan with the end of his tail, before Ivan could retaliate or Jacob could give an order.
"Don't hold back Trainer, my team and I have waited fifty years for a worthy battle, we cannot hold back!" Emerald yelled.
"My team has yet to begin to fight!" Jacob yelled back. "Ivan Take Down!"
"Raichu, Thunder Punch!" Emerald countered.
"Raaaaaaaai…" Raichu yelled as its paw glowed.
"Grrwaaaaaaaar…" Ivan growled as he ran full on against Raichu.
The two attacks connected and both Pokemon were sent backward, with Ivan landing on his back and Raichu tumbling backward. However Ivan's body was racked by electricity as the contact left him paralyzed. Yet just as Ivan slowly regained his feet, he shook himself heavily and managed to channel the electricity into his mouth, and from there to his fangs.
(He broke through the paralysis, so we wouldn't have to worry about him!) Sara said in wonder.
"Way to go Ivan, now take on Raichu with Thunder Fang!" Jacob said.
"Groaaaaawr!" Ivan roared as he ran straight at Raichu, his fangs bristling with electricity.
"Raichu, counter with Quick Attack!" Emerald yelled.
Raichu nodded and ran head long into Ivan, becoming a blur as he smacked right at Ivan, but Ivan withstood the attack and countered back with his own Thunder Fang. Both Pokemon grimaced in pain but it was Ivan who knocked Raichu away with a kick, before landing heavily next to Jacob. He noticed that the Thunder Fang hit Raichu in just the right spot to deal a critical blow, but where Ivan had landed on all four, Raichu on the other hand landed on his stomach and was trying to get back up.
Raichu tried twice to get back into a standing position, but on the third attempt he smiled warmly and weakly, before collapsing onto his stomach once again. Just as with Breloom, Raichu's Pokeball began glowing and disappearing, and with it Raichu as well.
"Raichu…" Emerald moaned as she watched Raichu vanish before her, but even as she cried her smile widened. "Rest easy my friend, you need not fight another battle…" There was a moment before she grabbed her next Pokeball and declared, "Swellow, I choose you!"
"Swellow!" Her Swellow screamed defiantly as he appeared.
"Ivan return!" Jacob ordered, and Ivan nodded as ran back to Jacob's side. "Coral, your next!"
"Milotic!" Coral said as she slithered out and curled up, awaiting her battle instructions.
"Swellow, Sky Attack!" Emerald yelled.
"Sweeeeeeeel…" Swellow yelled as she began to absorb energy, her body glowing with each second.
"Don't give that Swellow time to build up energy, hit it with Ice Beam Coral!"
"Miloooootic!" Coral yelled as she released a beam of ice energy at the Swellow.
The attack hit and he was just as surprised as Emerald when the attack frozen Swellow in place, midair, and not only that but it was so intense that it nearly froze the air around her. The ice cube that 'was' Swellow smacked into the floor and shattered open, revealing a fainted Swellow.
(Coral hit with a critical attack… thanks to your bond!) Sara said in amazement.
As with Raichu and Breloom, Swellow's eyes wearily opened, and she smiled in gratitude, before vanishing along with the Pokeball in Emerald's hands in a golden shower of light.
Emerald meanwhile was wailing in sorrow and joy as Swellow too vanished. "Swellow… soar through the heavens… free of your bonds… at long last!" Emerald whispered through the tears as she reached for her next Pokeball. "Latios… I choose YOU!"
She released her next Pokemon, a Latios, no bigger than Latias' brother but clearly younger than her father. (No way… a Latios?) Sara asked.
"Pfbbt?" Kenna neighed nervously as she tried to hide behind Jacob. "Am I next?"
"No… you're not fighting Kenna." Jacob said, before looking to Latias, who nodded in understanding. "Latias, you're up!"
"Right!" Latias said as she floated forward to take Coral's place.
Both Eon Pokemon stared into each other, with Latias smiling proudly as she floated in front of Jacob, and Latios glaring determinedly in front of Emerald. "Latios, Luster Purge!" Emerald ordered.
"Latias, Mist Ball!" Jacob ordered.
Both Eon Pokemon gathered their respective attack energies together, with Latios creating an orb of light while Latias created a sphere of water. Then both lodged their attacks at each other, with both colliding in midair, resulting in an explosion of light and water, but neither attack connected.
"Latias, Dragon Breath!" Jacob said quickly.
"Latios, Dragon Pulse!" Emerald ordered.
"Laaaaaa…" Latias yelled as she released her purple fire breath at Latios.
"Laaaaaa…" Latios cried as he released a pulse of purple energy at Latias.
Both attacks connected in midair as well, and it became a pushing match between the two forces, with Latias's breath being forced back before forcing Latios' energy pulse back toward him.
The two continued to force against one another before the two attacks resulted in another explosion, but this time hurting both Pokemon. Latias fell back with her feathers singed at the ends from the purple energies, and Latios' feathers crackling with electrical energies, the result of her breath's paralyzing effects.
"Latios Recover!"
"Latias Recover!"
Both Eon Pokemon nodded and gathered their energies, and their feathers regained their glory once more, Latios even shook off his paralysis.
"Dragon Claw!" Both Trainers yelled.
Once more both of the Eon Pokemon charged forward and began swiping at one another, with their claws extending energies to make it easier for them to attack. Yet with each swipe neither Latias nor Latios could score a direct hit. Then Latios scored a direct hit on Latias as she tried to swipe at her opponent once again, yet despite the damaging effect of the attack, she withstood the attack and recovered quickly.
"Latias, Recover!" Jacob said.
"Latios, Dragon Pulse!" Emerald ordered.
Latias began shimmering again, regaining her strength, and midway through her move, she managed to dodge the pulse attack that Latios sent against her. "Latias counter with Dragon Breath!"
"Latios, Luster Purge!" Emerald ordered.
Both Pokemon launched their attacks, but through the pain of being hit by Latias' Dragon Breath, Latios missed with his Luster Purge.
Thinking in sync, both he and Latias picked that moment to launch another Mist Ball at Latios, and as the attacked connected, Latios fell to the ground, but it was obvious he was still capable of fighting.
"Latios, Recover!" Emerald yelled, but Latios was racked with paralysis and couldn't move or shake it off.
"Latias, one more time, Mist Ball!" Jacob ordered.
(One victory round, coming up!) Latias yelled proudly, as she flung another Mist Ball at the downed Latios.
It hit Latios hard just as he was struggling to get back up. Yet just as with his fellow Pokemon on Emerald's team, Latios smiled weakly, nodded in gratitude, and whispered to them all psychically, (All dreams… are but another… reality… never forget…)
With that he closed his eyes and began to disappear, vanishing in a cascade of lights. But as Latios disappeared along with his ball, Emerald fell to her knees and cried loudly, mourning the loss of her fallen friend. "Latioooos… I'll never forget… when we soared the skies together!" She screamed. "Rest my friend, at last the gates are opening for us… and we'll see you on the other side!" She reached for her fifth Pokeball and lazily tossed it upward, shouting, "Wailord, I choose you!"
In a massive beam of light, her Wailord appeared above them, his head hanging limply over the side of the opening of the roof. "Glnnnngraaaaar!" Her Wailord wailed as it looked down at them, unable to fit inside the room because he was just too big!
*Sara… I hope you can handle that giant…* He thought as everyone backed up to give the Wailord space to fight.
(With you by my side… I will face 'any' challenge Jacob.) Sara said warmly as she stepped forward, keeping her eye on the massive Pokemon.
As soon as Sara was in position they began their battle, with Emerald yelling, "Wailord, Hydro Pump!"
"Sara, dodge it and counter with Magical Leaf!"
"Glngaraaaaaaawraaaa!" Wailord wailed as he opened his massive mouth and released the most powerful Hydro Pump Jacob has ever seen in his life, easily five times the size of Sara with twice the intensity that Arky ever displayed.
Sara only held her hand up and smiled before she vanished from sight, just before the attack could hit, reappearing on the other side of the room. Then she created several glowing leaves and flung them right at Wailord.
"Gaalgnaaarng!" He wailed loudly in pain, unable to dodge the attack because of his sheer size.
"Hydro Pump again!" Emerald roared.
"Magical Leaf!" Jacob ordered.
Once more Sara teleported and avoided the attack, and once again sent a wave of magical leaves at Wailord, who could not dodge them. "Wailord, Hydro Pump again!" Emerald yelled.
"Glngraaaaraaaa!" Wailord yelled, and once more opened its mouth to release a massive attack, but as before Sara dodged it, not even needing to be told.
Then as if in sync, she created one final wave of Magical Leaves, and sent it at the Wailord.
They watched as the leaves sank into the giant Pokemon, and at long last it beamed at them with its beady eyes, and almost smiled, before it began to vanish in a giant ball of glittering lights alongside its ball. As Wailord passed on, Emerald wailed almost as loudly as her Wailord in despair and joy.
"Wailord… I'm sorry our journey took this turn… but the seas are forever blue like the skies you loved… and now at long last you don't need to fight, anymore my friend!" She moaned loudly as she clutched the last Pokeball on her belt.
Jacob expected her to pick the last ball and send it out, but as they all watched she merely stood up and stared at the ball with almost a desperate longing, as if she didn't want to release the occupant inside. "Emerald?" He asked worriedly.
She looked up and smiled weakly. "Trainer… do you know what it means when we lose our lives as Trainers?" She asked timidly. "Look at me Trainer… I'm down to my last Pokemon… and if I lose… I lose my life as a Trainer!" She looked back at the ball with sadness. "Trainers are defined by their Pokemon… it is because we command their loyalty and trust that we call ourselves Trainers. When we lose them we no longer are called Trainers, and we no longer can have what makes us special… we are nothing without our Pokemon."
"Yes… but as a fellow Trainer, I now understand what it means to 'be' a Trainer Emerald." Jacob replied. "And it would be a shame to surrender, without our best Pokemon fighting each other to see who is truly better. Harold and I learned everything from you and Blaziken Emerald, and we're determined to show you how far we've come thanks to your lessons."
Harold nodded in agreement as he stepped forward and brandished his leaf bladed arms and claws.
Emerald nodded as she took one final look at her Pokeball, and declared in a proud voice, "Blaziken, I choose YOU!"
In a flash of light her Blaziken stood tall and proud, and 'she' glared proudly at them as she bumped her fists together, bowed respectfully, and assumed an aggressive stance against him and Harold. Harold himself responded similarly, and prepared to do battle with their mentor, and possibly strongest opponent thus far. "Blaziken, this is it… the final battle we've been waiting for!" Emerald yelled happily but sadly. "Our journey has led us to this moment, one way or another, it ends tonight! Start off with BLAZE KICK!"
"Blazikeeeeen!" Blaziken shouted as she jumped high into the air and leapt at Harold, her foot wrapped in flames.
Jacob and Harold tapped into their bond and simultaneously felt each other in the fight, Harold dodged the first strike without being told to, and when Jacob gave the order to counter attack with Dual Chop, he struck back with all the fury and power he could muster.
"Sceptiiiiiiiile!" Harold yelled as he swung at their opponent, but the Blaziken easily dodged the strikes and countered with her own.
"Blaze, Blaze, Blaze!" She yelled when Emerald told her to perform Double Kick, but just like she did Harold dodged the strikes as well.
For a full minute both starters attacked and missed, unable to hit one another as they tapped into their bonds with their trainers, and both trainers poured their energies into their Pokemon.
(Harold's PoV)
"Blaziken keep up the fight, hit him with Sky Uppercut!" Emerald yelled.
"Blaaaaaaze!" She yelled proudly as she tried to smack Harold, and missed again.
"Harold, Leaf Blade!" Jacob yelled out as well.
"Sceptiiiiiiile!" Harold screamed excitedly, but Blaziken dodged 'it' as well.
Then as they split away and charged against one another one more time, they both smacked each other and withstood each other's attacks, and smiled proudly at one another as they withheld their attacks.
"You are truly a powerful ally for your trainer Harold." She whispered.
"And you are truly a worthy opponent!" Harold whispered as well as they struggled to shove each other away. "I'm happy to have learned everything from you."
"Then I have only one thing left to teach you Harold…" She replied as she shoved him back a little before being shoved back again. "Protect him… with your life… without him… life is meaningless."
"I will do… nothing… less!" Harold roared as he shoved Blaziken back and went into a Dual Chop on Jacob's orders, and this time he tapped into his bond and dealt the powerful critical blows needed to take their opponent out.
Unfortunately just as he tapped into his bond, so did she, and she withstood his attack and clung to her strength, remaining standing as she leapt up high and went into a Blaze Kick.
He used his bond power again, and stood his ground, absorbing the attack once more and refused to let the heat or the power of the kick knock him down. Then he heard Jacob's order to perform another Dual Chop, and as she recoiled from the attack to recover, he swung his tail wide and used it to cover his attack.
As she tried to avoid the attack, he swung forward and struck her twice once more, striking at her with his Dual Chop and the power of his bond.
And this time… she was flung backward and onto her back, where she laid gasping for breath.
(Jacob's PoV)
"Blazikeeeeeeeen!" Emerald yelled. "Get up Blaziken, don't give in!"
Jacob watched sadly as Blaziken tried to obey, and couldn't help but feel the pain and sorrow as he watched the once powerful starter struggling to even lift her head up and look at him and Harold.
(Jacob…) Sara whispered sadly, as she held his arm. (It's over… she can't go on…)
"GET UP BLAZIKEN!" Emerald screamed desperately, but despite her Blaziken's efforts, it was obvious she could not muster the strength to continue fighting. "Get up Blaziken, GET UP AND FIGHT!"
And as they watched, she gave one final smile, one final nod of her head, and closed her eyes as she collapsed to the ground.
=End the song now=
Blaziken's body began to glow, along with her Pokeball.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Emerald yelled as she ran forward and clutched her Blaziken's hand. "Don't leave me Blaziken, don't leave me behind!"
Her Blaziken merely smiled as her Pokeball began to disappear.
"No, please, please, don't go, we still can fight, we can still win this battle!" She pleaded, but Emeralds pleas fell on deaf ears as her Blaziken began to vanish as well, starting with her legs.
"I'm begging you Blaziken, don't go… take me with you…" Emerald begged as she moaned and cried, but still nothing she said changed anything. "Don't you leave me Blaziken, that's an order from your Trainer, don't you leave me!"
As she clutched her Blaziken's arm tightly, her torso began to vanish, then her arms, and finally her head as it disappeared into a cascade of light. Soon, nothing was left of her mighty Blaziken.
Harold walked next to Jacob and looked at him sadly, before looking back at the weeping Emerald, still clutching at the air that had once been her Blaziken's arm. "Sceptile…" He said. "It's over…"