Author's notes: [Deep sigh] I owe you all a huge apology. I told you at Christmas that I would have a chapter out by mid-January, but I didn't start writing this chapter until in February. There was also the release of Kingdom Hearts 3 that occupied my attention for a couple of weeks.
I suppose I should give out a warning; there will be deaths in this chapter. I won't spoil whose death, but be prepared for those. These deaths were also the reason why I found myself rewriting couple of these scenes to make them work.
The chapter title is a reference to the last scene of this chapter and the opening scene is taking place after Owlman and the other left to face Team Plazma at Great Chasm.
Replies to Reviews:
-Guest: At this point I guess I should tell you happy Easter in advance if I can't get the next chapter out until before or after.
-Sailor Dragonball 87: Actually, another reason why it took this long for me to get this chapter out was because I took up to draw some of the scenes I have written of this story, one of those scenes being the ending of last chapter Ash riding on Mega Pidgeot while wearing the Nth Metal armor from Superman's point of view. Yeah, he has a cape on it. I'll see if I will open a deviantart or some other account and post that scene there.
-Spider-Man99: Welcome to this wild ride.
Chapter 16: The Eighth Knight
Team Rocket Airship above Unova Region, half an hour ago
''Let's go, Twerpettes and Hero of Truth.''
Owlman dragged Hilbert, May and Dawn from the bridge along with Jessie, leaving Serena, Hilda and Brock to the ship along with Meowth and the other Pokémon not in Pokéballs.
TSHOOOOM!
Barry ran back from having taken Colress to a holding cell in the lower deck. The Fastest Man Alive observed the room before sitting down near them and took a deep breath.
''Listen, I know I have known you all just for a few hours and those hours have not been pleasant for any of us… except for you maybe,'' Barry said, pointing that last bit to Hilda, but otherwise addressing everyone. ''My version of the Justice League never came across Owlman or his Crime Syndicate, so I don't know how efficiently this operation will go. But for the sake of optimism, let's assume they get the Metal card. Then we will have one, with five others still out there. This will put a snag to the Batman Who Laughs' plan to pull your world to the Dark Multiverse.''
''Your telling this to us now why?'' Brock asked when Barry drew breath and Hilda gave him an insulted glare.
''Because as long as I'm still wearing this costume and have the Speed Force connected with me, I'm still the Flash and I'm going to act like it,'' Barry said placing his hand on the lightning bolt and circle on the chest of his red costume. ''I'm prone to be ready and think ahead in these kinds of situations, while you on the other hand, well…''
''You assume we don't think on our feet and plan ahead?'' Serena said in a grimly low voice. ''What do you think Pokémon training, battling, contesting and performing have in common?''
Barry opened his mouth as if to say something, but the look on his face told them he got her point.
''Okay, you got me there,'' he eventually said, before recomposing himself and continued. ''After we are done here, the nearest card will be in Kalos, making it our next logical stop.''
''Which is what the Batman Who Laughs would be expecting us to do,'' Serena said with another deadpan voice. ''I imagine you weren't leader in your world, Flash.''
''You know, I haven't known you for very long time,'' Brock said raising his voice when turning to Serena, ''so I have to ask what your problem is?''
''What do you think my problem is?'' Serena responded with a very chilling voice. ''Who among us has been hit the hardest by these nightmares?''
''I took a bullet for you and Dawn,'' Hilda said mildly offended while lifting up her shirt to show the bandages on the side of her body.
''I lost MY world along with all my friends and family before I had to spend what felt like years trapped inside the mind of my Bruce,'' Barry said with obvious restraint in his voice.
''And I had to watch my best friend die,'' Brock said also contributing. ''I know Ash was your friend too and your mother's situation is being handled-''
''IS IT!?''
Serena acted like she had not listened to the others besides when they listed out her problems. From Brock's and Hilda's point of view, she seemed like a stark contrast to the person they had first met. For Hilda back in Hoenn when buying her new clothes and for Brock back when Ash had introduced her to him. There was no happiness in her eyes and and she seemed to have turned paler.
''YES! IT'S BEING HANDLED, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED!'' Serena screamed in a hysterical intimidation, before continuing noticeably agitated. ''Besides Ash being alive in some kind of dream world, and looking for some metal to-''
TSHOOOM!
In the middle of of Serena's screeching, Barry moved quickly to place her away from Hilda and Brock. Using his speed, Barry had moved Serena to the gurney Bruce had previously been laying after their escape from Saffron.
''What are you doing?'' Hilda asked shocked when Barry stopped moving at super speed and it was shown that he had restrained Serena to the gurney.
''Her mood swings gave me a hunch and I hope I'm wrong,'' Barry said keeping his arm up as a sign to stay calm for now. ''Brock, I was still trapped inside Red Death when you were in Saffron and couldn't see clearly what happened, so tell me if you saw her come into contact with-''
''GET ME OUT OF THIS THING!'' Serena screamed aggressively.
''Yeah, yeah, they isolated her from us,'' Brock said understanding what Barry was talking about. ''The oldest Robin, Batman Who Laughs' son, he took her to Batman Who Laughs and to her mom before Mewtwo got down through the roof.''
Serena screamed again with building hysterical rage and tried to get herself freed.
''Are you saying they did something to her?'' Hilda asked also seeing what was going on.
''Batman Who Laughs already turned her mom to be like him,'' Brock said looking at Serena's strugging in the restraints. ''Why would he-''
''Why wouldn't he?'' Barry said running his and through his hair. ''He has the Joker's mentality with Batman's raw skill, but as a Bruce Wayne he must still have some form of longing for a family.''
BANG!
TSHOO-
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH!''
At first there was a loud voice followed by the Barry trying to react to it with his speed. When that one second had passed, both Hilda and Brock witnessed the changed situation where Barry fallen to the floor yelling in pain and shaking with seizures at super speed. Brock tried to reach out to him, but the seizures made it impossible to even get a hold of him without getting hit back.
''Let me tell you a story,'' the chilling cold voice spoke, somehow audible over Barry's anguishing screams, that caused Brock and Hilda to freeze. ''Once upon a time, I came up with ways to take out the Justice League.''
Brock had knelled next to Barry, but like Hilda, his attention was drawn to where the chilling voice was coming from. The Batman Who Laughs standing with his Robins and Serena's mother, Grace Yvonne, as she was now, at the doorway to the bridge and blocking their way out. The Robins were held up in their leashes by Grace, while the Batman Who Laughs was keeping one arm around her body and on his other hand, he was keeping a smoking gun. The oldest Robin was perched above the doorway.
''Then they found out and they were SO disappointed in me,'' Batman Who Laughs said shaking his head like he was sad, which caused Grace to lean her head against him in her current state, before he showed the gun he was carrying. ''This is what I built for the Flash, a vibrating bullet that Barry would always try to make go through him by vibrating his molecules, but see what happens to a creature of habits.''
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!'' Barry kept screaming on the floor, making Brock and Hilda's attention jump between him and the Batman Who Laughs' family.
''You see, when a vibrating bullet hits a vibrating target, it's the same as if a normal bullet were to hit a normal target, except for one thing,'' Batman Who Laughs continued walking over to Barry's seizuring body and explaining with hand gestures. ''See, because it's a vibrating bullet, it keeps vibrating inside the vibrating target, making it keep vibrating until the body can't take it anymore.''
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggghhhhh!'' Barry's screaming begun to get weaker, like he was about to let go.
''I tested this method on other Flashes on other Earths I have travelled to and-''
''Poison Jab!'' Brock said sliding a Pokéball at the Batman Who Laughs, releasing his
''Grogunk!''
which punched the evil Batman out of their way.
With him temporary disposed, Hilda released her Serperior on the feet of Serena's gurney and told her to use
''Vine Whip!''
on everything in their path as she herself got to behind the gurney and ran pushing it through the Robins and Grace blocking the exit.
''Hah hah hah hah haa,'' Batman Who Laughs chuckled after they had run away from the bridge. ''What fun would it be if they didn't try to run away? Crow.''
''Crow, crow, crow!'' the Robins responded to their command phrase and ran after their prey. ''Crow, crow, crow!''
''Damian, go after the boys and be there to tell them to 'Bar' when they catch up,'' Batman Who Laughs told his son as Grace helped him back up. ''Grace, can you get us drinks? We could all use a tall glass of 'Batmen'.''
Damian dropped down from his perch from above the door and left the bridge followed by his new stepmother, leaving the Batman Who Laughs alone there with seizuring Barry.
''I think you've had enough,'' Batman Who Laughs said picking a card from his robes, shook it into a controller and used it to make the seizures stop.
Barry drew deep breaths on the floor, barely alive from the seizures and being shot.
''I gotta say, Barry, I didn't expect to see you again,'' Batman Who Laughs said lowering himself to speak to the wounded speedster, ''but ever since Red Death suddenly begun to slowdown, I knew you'd be out and running again.''
''You… you… you knew…'' Barry voice came out weak, but audibly as the Batman Who Laughs reach to turn him around to lay on his back, aka to put them face to face, ''you knew I was trapped inside him?''
"'BRUCE! IT'S BARRY! STAY AWAY FROM HIM! DON'T LIST-' Hah hah hah hah," Batman Who Laughs responded laughing at Barry's horrified face. ''I knew all along, that is why I never told Red Death any vital parts of my plan, just halves because, hah hah hah, he was just half a Batman.''
''Your plan?'' Barry's voice echoed with desperation avoid of hope. "The cards, you had them spread to pull this world-''
''Barry, my old friend, the cards have done their part already,'' Batman Who Laughs said placing his hands onto Barry's shoulders. ''They have tethered this world to the Dark Multiverse and it's the voice of Barbatos, the Anti-Music of the Great Noise, that has already sprung those chords to make them reel it in.''
Barry couldn't speak. All he could think now were the implications of what was going to happen couldn't be stopped any more.
''See? You're getting it,'' Batman Who Laughs said nodding his head. ''Getting to the cards won't matter anymore now that Barbatos has let His voice out. The Dark Multiverse is already pulling this world down towards it. It's being pulled down as we speak and nothing you do can stop it.''
''Bruce… please…''
''Sshhhh, Barry, just let it go,'' Batman Who Laughs said pushing a finger on Barry's mouth to shush him. ''You have done enough, but if you want to suffer more-''
BOOM!
A Boom Tube opened, cutting him off and dropped the earlier away team to the Bridge.
''Hey, Big Brother.''
Hoenn Region – Sky Pillar
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
Rayquaza roared, reminding Batman, Pikachu and the other Pokémon brought there with them about it's presence after they had been confronted by Zinnia, the girl in a tattered cloak whose appearance made her look like she lived at the pillar. When Batman didn't respond to her initial confrontation, she asked him again:
''What tribe are you from?''
''What makes you think I'm from any tribe?'' Batman eventually spoke, knowing that silent treatment would waste both of their time.
''Normal individuals don't run around dressed like that,'' Zinnia responded pointing at Batman, ''unless they are a part of a larger group. Wait! Are you saying you just like to dress like that?''
''Hrrr,'' Batman grunted.
''Oh my Arceus, you totally do!'' Zinnia said with a school girlish grin and giggled. ''Hey, at least I'm wearing regular clothes under my lore keeper robe, but look at you showing off your body and muscles in a skin tight bodysuit and-''
''Pi-ka-CHUUUUUUUUUUUU!''
Pikachu, sharing Batman's mood of not wanting to waste time, fired a Thunderbolt attack at Zinnia. It didn't hit her, but it got the message through to her.
''… thanks,'' Batman said glancing at Pikachu on his shoulder, approving the surprise attack before walking closer to Zinnia. ''Can we talk adults now?''
''Are we adults?'' Zinnia asked carefully, but still with the attitude.
''Pikaa!'' Pikachu growled at Zinnia with a deep voice and then told the other Pokémon to, ''Pika pii ka!''
Charizard spit fire at Zinnia's feet, Greninja created a Water Shuriken ready for use, Sceptile readied Leaf Blade, Heracross rose up into air and Krookodile looked intimidating.
''You know I can fight too?'' Zinnia said unfazed by the Pokémon trying to intimidate her.
''I didn't come here to fight,'' Batman told her while gesturing Charizard, Greninja, Sceptile, Heracross and Krookodile to stay back. ''Listen to me, Zinnia, I'm here to pick up something left here recently by…''
Batman paused to look at Pikachu and the other Pokémon with him before turning back to Zinnia.
''These Pokémon are not mine,'' Batman told Zinnia, who nodded her head as a sign that she could tell. ''Their trainer was killed right in front of me and this Pikachu. I'm working against the killers and these Pokémon volunteered to work with me.''
The look on Zinnia's face stayed at the same smug expression it had been on since she had revealed herself to Batman, but as she looked at Pikachu, and how Pikachu looked at her, and then at the other Pokémon looking at her, she slowly seemed to get affected by their initial intimidation and see why their had done so in the first place. That caused her expression to change as the reality of their situation, as Batman had told her, suddenly hit her and the shock made her drop her act.
''Zinnia?'' Batman asked when she turned away and released a small, light purple colored Pokémon with large ears out of it's Pokéball.
''Aster, if I were to-'' Zinnia whispered hugging the small Pokémon while Batman used the piece on his hand to identify it as a Whismur.
Batman exchanged glances with Pikachu and the others before kneeling next to Zinnia, further attempting to talk to her.
''Listen to me, I need your help,'' Batman spoke without any growling in his voice. ''Earlier, there was that was left here by the people who killed Pikachu's trainer. A metal that when responding to a noise could turn into a Mega Stone. I found one that turned into a Key Sto-''
Zinnia had turned to look at Batman but had not gotten a chance to respond anyway before Batman had cut himself off mid-sentence and shot himself back up on his feet with his exposed mouth open in a state of shocked realization.
Red Death had ran off immediately after that noise had been yelled out and the card had turned into the Key Stone right after. Why else would that have happened unless if that noise had activated the card to do what it was supposed to do and…
''Why would it do that?'' Batman asked out loud, not minding how his behavior looked. ''If that was my plan, where would it lead? He's me, it's his plan, what would I want to-''
As he was talking, Batman glanced up at the sky. In Hoenn, it should have been night time now, but there were no stars on the sky, nor the moon, if this world had a moon. And the shade of the sky was the same as the colorless void as in the nightmare where Barbatos had tortured Batman in.
''They started it,'' Batman said realizing what was going and ran up to the stairs space between them and Rayquaza, using the walls surrounding them to jumpkick himself to a higher vantage point to see better.
''Did you need help from me or what are you doing?'' Zinnia called out after Batman as Rayquaza begun to take more interest into him. ''Hey, look out! You're too close to-''
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
Rayquaza roared at Batman standing on the rooftop walls of the pillar. The only flinching reaction he gave at the Legendary Pokémon's roar was to fire the grabbling gun at the floor to keep him, and Pikachu on his shoulder, from being pushed off the edge by the powerful sound waves. After Rayquaza was done roaring and begun to just growl, it's eyes fixed on Batman before it.
Or rather, something that Batman was wearing on him.
''Did you say you have a Key Stone on you?'' Zinnia called out at Batman again. ''Show it to Rayquaza!''
''Pikkapi,'' Pikachu told Batman and pointed at his utility belt. ''Pika piika, Pikkapi.''
''Is Rayquaza capable of Mega Evolving?'' Batman asked as he took the Key Stone from his belt but kept it in a closed fist. ''So that it would become stronger than other Legendary Pokémon?''
''Probably, yeah,'' Zinnia answered from the lower roof. ''The Draconid People have believed that when a meteor that once hit Hoenn would strike again, Rayquaza would be the one that would stop it from destroying the region.''
''There won't be a meteor when there are no stars on the sky,'' Batman said pointing Zinnia's attention towards the colorless void above them. ''Barbatos and his Dark Knights have dragged your world from it's place to a hellscape where it won't last for long.''
Zinnia's response was delayed enough for Batman turn to look at her and jump down at her, softening his landing by spreading his cape open like wings before he and then
Thomb!
landed in front of her. Pikachu was just and just able to hang onto him with his tiny fistfuls of his cape.
''Okay, I see now why you're dressed like that,'' Zinnia when Batman's figure rose up in front of her. ''What Pokémon is your costume based on, by th-''
''I assume you're putting up a front to hide that you are scared,'' Batman told Zinnia, with a commanding tone in his voice. ''I saw the writing on the walls as climbed up here, the history of your people. You say you have been waiting for a disaster that Rayquaza is supposed to stop. That disaster is not coming, another one is here on it's place and I can't promise you that Rayquaza can stop it.''
Zinnia drew breath recomposing herself and picked up her Whismur, likely for emotional support, before talking.
''Who the hell are you?''
''I'm Batman.''
''Just Batman?''
''Is your name just Zinnia with no surname?''
''Of the Draconid Tribe.''
''Batman of Gotham from Earth-0.''
''Okay, I'll take that,'' Zinnia said leaning her head back as a sign of being done with the back and forth. ''This other disaster in place of the meteor, that has turned the sky like that, how do you think I can help stopping it?''
''The Demon and it's soldiers doing this, I have seen them take down the Legendaries for Sinnoh and learned they also topped a powerful man-made Pokémon,'' Batman said turning 90 degree back so that he wasn't blocking Zinnia's line of sight to Rayquaza and showed her his Key Stone. ''Johto Legendaries are scared to confront them because of that and I can't talk for Unova, Kalos or the other regions. But if Rayquaza can Mega Evolve, it could be stronger or strong enough to go up against Barbatos and the Dark Knights.''
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!'' Rayquaza roared again, this time focused on the Key Stone Batman was holding. ''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
''Okay, I think I get it,'' Zinnia said taking a notice on Rayquaza's interest on Batman's Key Stone. ''Walk up to Rayquaza and keep your Key Stone up towards it. If it Mega Evolves, then you have an ally against your enemies.''
Alola Region - Melemele Island
Superman landed on the beach facing Hau'oli City while carrying James, who was still unconscious from exhaustion. Ash, now dressed in his shining white Nth Metal armor fashioned after a Batsuit, came down after him on his Mega Pidgeot.
''Four islands, four pressure points,'' Superman told Ash as he recalled Pidgeot to it's Pokéball. ''I could try to slow down the sinking, but I still can't be the only one pushing your world up without accidentally breaking through and destroying it. We need more people as strong as me.''
''We have Pokémon that can help you, Superman,'' Ash said walking past him in a fast pace towards the Hau'oli. ''In Alola alone, there are the Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini which all together could match your strength. Then there the Totem Pokémon, which are stronger version of regular Pokémon and after them we have Solgaleo, Lunala and Necrozma.''
''Divide them all to matching groups and we'd have more powerhouses as strong as me to push your world from sinking to the Forge?'' Superman responded floating after him while still carrying James over his shoulder. ''Okay, how many of those Pokémon can fly like me and are strong enough to push up.''
''Clark-''
''If these were normal circumstances I could do it alone, but because your world has sunken into the Dark Multiverse it could become as fragile as the others,'' Superman continued. ''I want to help save your world, not be the cause it gets destroyed. You do understand why we need to do this the right way?''
Ash didn't say anything at first but nodded as they kept walking.
''Let's just get started with the Tapus and them move onto other Pokémon we can find from other regions,'' Ash said as they arrived at the Alolan Pokémon School.
At it's gates, Ash stopped and took the Nth Metal helmet off from covering his head to a moment silence.
''Ash?'' Superman asked when Ash had been looking at the Bat mask shaped helmet long enough.
''Last time I was here, it was before I learned about what had happened to Pallet Town,'' Ash said with a heavy voice. ''Before I learned that my friends were in danger, that my Pokémon had been attacked, when I still knew my mom was alive and I didn't know the word 'Batman'!''
''Tweeeerp…'' James murmured from Superman's shoulder, ''remember… what I said…''
Ash sighed taking out a Pokéball and released his Squirtle.
''Squirtle, use Water Gun on James to freshen him up,'' he told it as he put the Nth Metal helmet back on and resumed to walk towards the school building. ''Clark, see if you can see the Ultra Guardians down below the school.''
''BECAUSE I'M BATMAN!''
''Find the others,'' Owlman whispered to Hilbert and May, who were the closest to him, as he got to face the Batman Who Laughs. ''I'll buy you time.''
With that, Owlman charged at the madman with his sharp talons front and center. Batman Who Laughs smirked in amusement and dodged to his right, to which Owlman responded by trying to slash at him with his left arm. Batman Who Laughs responded by grabbing arm with his both hands and swung around to push Owlman against the wall nearest wall with his back first. Thankfully, Owlman had managed to react in time by making his shoulders hardened to take the his instead of his back, keeping the damage from the hit at minimal.
Shaking his head, Owlman quickly regained his senses and put his hands together so that he was touching his elbows with his hands. Doing this made the blades in his gauntlets extend to point forward, giving his following attacks more reach.
''I'm going to pin you against the wall and then I'm going to cut your head off,'' Owlman grunted swinging thie blade on his left hand and pointing the right one at Batman Who Laughs. ''Unlike Batman, I was never against killing.''
''Hah, bold words, Big Brother,'' Batman Who Laughs chuckled with his back at the Pokémon Trainers, having positioned their fight so that they couldn't slip past him and Owlman. ''Especially when you haven't drawn blood yet. Me on the other hand…''
TSHOCK!
Batman Who Laughs threw a knife on the floor between him and Owlman. A knife with fresh blood on it. The sight of it caught Owlman off guard and he flinched to check his body for wounds-
''Made you look!'' Batman Who Laughs smirked
SMACK!
TSHOCK!
KAPOW!
punching Owlman, with his defenses temporarily down, to his mask's mouth hole, then to his sides, then pulled his head against his knee, before finally
CRAASH!
headbutting the spikes in his thorned headband against Owlman's goggles, piercing them and essentially blinding him.
''WHO WANTS TO GO NEXT!?'' Batman Who Laughs screamed at Hilbert, Dawn, May, Jessie and N, fearlessly daring them come at him as he kicked the defeated Owlman away next to Barry and cracked his knuckles.
While they had been unable to leave the bridge because the fight had been blocking their way out, they had also acknowledged that the Batman Who Laughs was alone there with them and knew they had a chance to take him out while they could.
''Bo, ISOLATE HIM WITH FLARE BLITZ!'' Hilbert yelled throwing a Pokéball and sent his Emboar against Batman Who Laughs.
''Blaziken, keep him down Blaze Kick!'' May yelled doing the same with her Blaziken.
''Typhlosion, finish him off with Flamethrower!'' Dawn followed the suit with her Fire Type.
Three Fire Types charged at the Batman Who Laughs one at the time as per the orders from their trainers. Batman Who Laughs barely got a chance to react or change the expression on his face when they came at him. Flare Blitz came first pushing Batman Who Laughs away from the door, followed by Blaze Kick that put him down floor on with Flamethrower engulfing the area surrounding the Batman Who Laughs to make sure he couldn't escape the fire and was burned away. Now, everyone assumed the fire had got him, so Jessie and N, the only ones who had not used their Pokémon against the Batman Who Laughs, rushed to Owlman's side.
''Boss, are you alright?'' Jessie asked helping Owlman up and getting his damaged goggles off.
''Never mind me, I told you to run!'' Thomas Jr muttered pulling his cowl back and threw something from his belt to his face. ''Is he down!?''
''Even Dark Types are not immune to fire,'' May said as N was looking into Barry's situation. ''And he is supposed to be the only one among them without any powers.''
''Fire is fading, so we should see his remains,'' Hilbert said defiantly pointing how Emboar, Blaziken and Typhosion had were no longer attacking the corner where Batman Who Laughs had been thrown to burn. ''If we could take out one them, the rest should be-
TZAAAAAAAHP!
Suddenly, a beam of ice hit the Emboar, Blaziken and Typhlosion from behind, frozing them all solid to a shared icy prison. The Frozen status registered to all three trainers as a regular instinct in any Pokémon and in a unison, Hilbert, May and Dawn quickly drew out their respective Pokéballs to recall them out of the ice.
''Bo/Blaziken/Typhlosion, ret-''
CRAAAASH!
It happened in split second.
The ice exploded into tiny splinters and small pieces of the Pokémon that had been incased in it, along with a couple of ice picks. The shock of seeing it, as well as how suddenly it happened, hit Hilbert, May and Dawn so hard that they froze out of shock.
''Bo…'' Hilbert muttered seeing the first Pokémon of his career as a Pokémon Trainer now broken into icy blocks.
''B- b -blaziken…'' May shuttered seeing her very first Pokémon now reduced into small pieces of icy shards.
''Typ-hosion…'' Dawn said in as hollow voice as Hilbert and May before her as she as the Fire type she had raised all the way from an egg was now gone.
All three fell on their knees in their shared shock. Jessie also looked horrified with Thomas Jr clearly uncomfortable to have regained his sight to see this. N looked disbelieved at the situation, unable to believe something like this would happen and barely conscious Barry just enough could read what was happening.
''Hah hah hah, I told you, remember?'' haunting cold voice said behind them, coming out of the window glass that had been blocked on the other side, making it reflect the bridge on it like a mirror. ''A Batman who Laughs is a Batman who always wins.''
Alola Region – the Pokémon School
''Let me get this straight; You go to college here and besides of your courses, you're sent to work with a first response dog catcher task force as a sub-group for a local company that sponsors this school?'' Superman asked when they had entered the Alolan Pokémon School, left James to rest on some desks and opened the hidden elevator in Ash's class room leading down to the Ultra Guardians' base. ''And you keep your stuff under the school in a hidden cave with a command center?''
''Yes,'' Ash answered as they entered the elevator and headed down. ''And those are stray Ultra Beasts that we catch and then release them back to the Ultra Space.''
''That makes me think of some anime I once watched in my youth,'' Superman responded squinting his eyes trying to think back to something distant, then shook his head to focus himself. ''This doesn't sound like any college I went to.''
Ash didn't respond as the elevator took them down. As they descended, Ash thought about a lot of things from what Owlman could have possibly done to lead his friends now that his world was sinking towards the Forge as well as how he would have to try and explain what he did know to his friends here in Alola. Not to mention explaining Superman to them.
''I can see your friends down there,'' Superman said looking down where the elevator was heading with his eyes glowing blue. ''They are preparing for us.''
''Do they know I'm coming down there?'' Ash asked.
''Not yet,'' Superman answered. ''They just know that the elevator was called up and is coming down while they were already down there.''
Ash sighed as the elevator came down and took off the Nth Metal helmet again. Before the elevator door opened, he stepped between it and Superman, telling him with a gesture that he was going to face the people outside first.
''Guys, it's me,'' he said with a careful voice stepping out with the Nth Metal helmet between his arm and his face exposed. ''It's Ash-''
At the moment Ash had stepped out of the elevator, a blast of fire, a body of water, a storm of sharp leafs, a beam of ice and a bolt of electricity were all thrown at him at the same time. Luckily, they all were sent at a speed close to speeding bullet and once the dust had settled, the attackers could only see a large red cloth bearing a yellow pentagon with the letter S in it.
''This is how you treat your friends?'' Superman said with disappointment in his voice as he rose up from covering Ash and laid his first glance at the Ultra Guardians. ''From what I have heard, you don't even treat your enemies with this kind of hostility.''
Superman looked, or actually glared at the people who Ash had let him believe were his friends. Ash did look at them too, shocked and caught off guard.
''Was that an accident or did you just not know it was me?''
''Ash?'' one of the boys among the Ultra Guardians, said as the first on to step forward. ''No, we didn't recognize it was you.''
''You don't really look like yourself,'' the tallest girl among them said looking at the Nth Metal armor Ash was wearing. ''What are you wearing?''
''This is an armor forged down in that place we are currently sinking down towards,'' Ash said as sharp and quick response, before noticing the girls' strange looks at at Superman. ''Clark here is someone whose world has already sunken down into that place and he is willing to help us in avoiding that fate.''
''Clark?''
''Yeah, Clark, these are Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles and Lillie, my school mates and fellow Ultra Guardians'' Ash said sharply getting the situation quickly underway and moved on. ''Guys, this is Clark, who in his own world was known as Superman.''
''Does everyone on that world wear underwear on the outside?'' quiet looking girl asked looking at Superman's costume.
''That is something we don't have time to talk about right now,'' Superman said changing his attitude from disappointed to a more focused one. ''Listen, I don't know if you have noticed, but your world is sinking to place we just got back from. I can help you in slowing it down and maybe even push your world back to it's original place, but I can't do that alone without help.''
''We discussed about it on the way here,'' Ash continued, knowing they'd listen if he also told them. ''Clark is strong enough to push the planet and he can fly, but with Pokémon as powerful as him.''
''He can do what?'' Sophocles, the short boy, asked when Superman rose up to float in the air before them, which lead to shocked and astonished anime reactions.
''We have wasted enough time here,'' Superman said looking down at Ash while the rest of the Ultra Guardians looked at the Man of Steel floating in the air. ''I'm going find a strong enough point and start pushing your world up and away from the Forge. Talk them through about everything remaining and then get the Nth Metal to Owlman and the others.''
Ash nodded with a determined look and with that, Superman used his X-ray vision to find an exit from the underground base and flew off.
''Okay,'' Ash said turning back to his Alolan friends, who were gawking at the direction Superman had just flown off, ''which parts of all this do I still need to explain to you?''
Team Rocket Airship
The glass surface of the Team Rocket airship's window waved like water as the Batman Who Laughs appeared on it. Under his robed, cape like jacket he was wearing green belt with a white stone and he was also carrying big cannon like gun that had fumes coming out of the barrel.
''That's Mr Freeze's gun,'' Thomas Jr said recognizing the weapon he was carrying.
''And Mirror Master's belt,'' Barry's broken voice said recognizing the gadget that had once belonged to one of the Flash's Rogues. ''He's not just using his old enemies' weapons, but my Rogues' too.''
''And now that I have your attention,'' Batman Who Laughs said stepping out from the window's reflection and adjusted the belt he was wearing, ''I had Murder Machine look up the on-board surveillance of this ship to check your reactions to something that happened recently. And imagine my amusement when I learned that you missed it.''
As he spoke, the covers on the windows were raised to reveal not only that the airship had moved away from Unova, but also that the sky had turned colorless and with multiple different planets circling their world in a spiral. That sight actually alarmed those not suffering from loss of their Pokémon as they had not even noticed that the ship had been moving when the Boom Tube had dropped them on board.
''You killed Pokémon?'' N said in a deep and harrowing voice that had never before felt rage in it, as his eyes lock at the Batman Who Laughs. ''What kind of monster- even Team Plasma wouldn't-''
''It happened when this vessel got hit by Team Plasma Brigade, my lord Barbatos released his voice to pull the chords the reality,'' Batman Who Laughs continued talking over N's protests, ''to drag your world down to the Dark Multiverse. It's sinking down to the bottom as we speak and once it reaches the Dark Forge, it's energies will be siphoned here, to the Ultimate Thule.''
WRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMMMMMMB!
Suddenly, the ship begun to vibrate and then change. The walls and interior design turned from metallic chrome to a dirty golden shade. The changing fashion happened in a similar fashion as Murder Machine's nanites when calling the Alfred Protocol, signifying that the change was happening due to his influence. Batman Who Laughs added some personal touches to the bridge by throwing a couple of his metal cards around to create chairs, monitors and some unrecognizable contraptions.
While the change was happening, Thomas Jr signed Jessie, N and Barry to drag Hilbert, May and Dawn out of the bridge while getting up on his feet.
''You call this your new Batcave'' Thomas Jr asked confronting the Batman Who Laughs and attempting to distract him.
''No, Big Brother, I call it the Ultimate Thule,'' Batman Who Laughs said without even turning to look at him and extended his left arm, which had a remote. ''Oh, and before I forget-''
CLICK!
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH!'' Barry begun to scream uncontrollably while shaking at super speed and gave up their position. ''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaarrrrggggghhhh!''
''I almost forgot to end Barry's misery,'' Batman Who Laughs said as Barry's screaming begun to die down. ''Hush now, old friend, you have been running enough.''
''FLASH!'' Thomas Jr yelled realizing what was happening and tried to reach out to help him somehow, as Jessie and N could only watch in horror, but-
''AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaarrrrrrrgghh-!'' Barry's screaming from the seizures grew weaker and ultimately died down and the shaking roughly ended.
Click!
Barry's body stopped shaking as super speeds and then fell lifelessly onto the floor next to the frozen pieces of the Batman Who Laughs other victims. As a corpse with wriggled skin barely covering the skeletal remains in the torn red costume.
Hoenn Region – Sky Pillar
Batman walked up the stairs to the upper roof area where Rayquaza was waiting. Pikachu was still on his shoulder and the other Pokémon stood back behind with Zinnia. Rayquaza was a long, serpent like Pokémon that reminded Batman of the dragons from the Chinese legend back in his world as it floated in the air. As Batman approached it, the Legendary Dragon groaned at him like a snare, seeing if he could be scared away.
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
''Pikkaa,'' Pikachu said voicing concern.
''You're doing great!'' Zinnia called from behind.
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
''What the hell am I doing?'' Batman muttered unfazed by Rayquaza's roaring while still pointing the Key Stone at the Dragon Pokémon. ''Hrrrrgh, Mega Evolve already, you stupid overgrown worm.''
''KHIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!''
''DO I LOOK LIKE I HAVE TIME FOR THIS CRAP!?'' Batman yelled back at yet another roar from Rayquaza. ''I have already had one staredown with another dragon, so unless this is going to lead anywhere, STOP WASTING MY TIME!''
''KHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-A-RAAAAAAAAAAHH!'' Rayquaza yelled back with Batman, who gritted his teeth while also being grateful for not being breathed at with fire. ''KHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!''
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHHH!'' Batman yelled at the hissing Dragon while still practically pushing the Key Stone at Rayquaza. ''COME ON! DO SOMETHING ALREADY!''
''KHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!''
''AAAAAAAAAARGH!''
''PIKKAAAAAAAAAAA!''
THSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH!
Finally, the Key Stone reacted to Rayquaza, which begun to radiate bright light from it's body. The Legendary Pokémon rose up from being in a circling position and to stand high in the air before Batman and Pikachu. At the sidelines, Zinnia opened a bag of chips and observed the event unfolding before her and the Pokémon Batman had brought with him.
''KHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!'' Rayquaza roared as the radiance grew stronger.
This actually caused Batman to take a couple of steps back and pull his his cape to cover himself and Pikachu from what he assumed to be an upcoming explosion, while still keeping the Key Stone extended forwards.
TSAAAAAAF!
Then it happened. When the radiance shunned down from Rayquaza, it appeared before Batman as almost completely different being. The Legendary Pokémon had grown longer with new limbs, yellow eyes and markings and like those Chinese Dragons that Batman had thought back earlier,the Mega Rayquaza looked like it had chained ribbons, or whiskers, growing out of it's face.
''Wow,'' Batman caught himself saying astoundished by the sight of this magnificent creature.
''Pika,'' Pikachu responded from his shoulder, before looking behind them. ''Pikkapi.''
''Hmm?'' Batman muttered turning to look what Pikachu had asked him to look and-
''You have taught Rayquaza how to perform Dragon Ascent,'' Zinnia spoke from the floor, having fallen on her knees down to Batman's feet with her head down like she was bowing after him. ''Batman of Gotham from Earth-0, your actions have served the Draconid People's long wait to prepare us for the coming meteor… if it ever comes after this, but-''
''Get up on your feet and stop embarrassing yourself,'' Batman said looking down on her. ''Taught it how to use Dragon Ascent? You mean it didn't Mega Evolve?''
''Oh, yes, it totally did,'' Zinnia said quickly shoting herself back on her feet. ''But Rayquaza doesn't need a Mega Stone for it, probably because having one for it is pretty absurd. That is why it knows how to do it with Dragon Ascent as a natural ability.''
''You mean does now that it learned that move?'' Batman asked.
''Yes,'' Zinnia answered, before falling down to bow at Batman once again. ''And teaching that move has placed me and the Draconid People to your debt, Batman of Gotham from Earth-0.''
''In that case,'' Batman said turning back to look at Mega Rayquaza, ''do you happen to know how to ride that thing?''
Zinnia got back up, looked at Batman, then at Mega Rayquaza and then at Batman again, before responding, ''Duh.''
''Great,'' Batman responded recalling Charizard, Sceptile, Heracross and Krookodile, but for some reason Greninja refuse to be recalled to it's Pokéball. ''What is it?''
Greninja had crouched down at a corner and when Batman had tried to to recall it to the Pokéball, it jumped and dodged it. Landing on the wall of the roof, Greninja glared down at them with one of it's arms in a fist, like it was holding something in it. Then Greninja threw it at Batman, who managed to catch it with a pure reflex.
''The Metal card left here,'' Batman identified it as it also begun to shake and turned into a sphere. ''And now it's a Mega Stone.''
''Yeah, that's a Sceptilite,'' Zinnia said looking at the new Mega Stone in Batman's hands. ''Good thing you have a Sceptile to go with it. Did you know it turns into a Grass/Dragon type when it Mega Evolves?''
''I do now,'' Batman said now successfully recalling Greninja to a Pokéball and moved towards the Mega Rayquaza. ''There is another one in Anistar City's Sundial in the Kalos Region.''
Zinnia rushed to mount the Mega Rayquaza before Batman and gestured for him to mount it behind her.
''By the way, senpai,'' Zinnia said stealthy grinning as Batman climbed on behind her, ''do you even know where Kalos Region is?''
Batman did not answer that.
Onboard the Ultimate Thule – Above the Mt Coronet in Sinnoh Region
Four dead. In a short time, the Batman Who Laughs had managed to kill 3 fully evolved Pokémon and Barry, who had the power to move at superhuman speed. Killing May's Blaziken, Dawn's Typhlosion and Hilberts Emboar had place these trainers into a state of shock they couldn't break out just yet with Jessie, N and Thomas Jr unsure how to fight back or run away. All the while the airship was being converted to what the Batman Who Laughs called the Ultimate Thule.
''Crow, crow, crow!'' the Robins crowing was heard from the changing ship's corridors.
''Bar!'' a woman voice commanded right before the woman wearing a catsuit with a jester cap walked in carrying a bucket of ice and bottle along with champagne glasses. ''Just ice and champagne for variety.''
''Good,'' Batman Who Laughs responded embracing the woman as she walked to him.
''I cannot believe I'm only now asking this, but what the hell did you do to that poor woman!?'' Thomas Jr asked looking at them.
''Father, we found Big Sister Serena!'' the elder Robin said entering the bridge with the other Robins on a leash in his right hand and on his left, a really pale looking Serena. ''She needs to have our support.''
''It's good to know you can always trust your family,'' Batman Who Laughs said glaring at Thomas Jr. ''What did I do? The very thing I always avoided doing before I was like this. I went on date with her and charmed her by being myself. No pretending, no secrets, just being-''
''You did it to BOTH of them!'' Thomas Jr lashed out when he saw the condition Serena was on. ''You turned both the mother and daughter into the same creatures as your own son!''
''Like I told Clark long time a go, all I did was point them to a direction and they walked the distance all on their own,'' Batman Who Laughs said innocently. ''That makes them family now.''
Thomas Jr got up on his feet and was about to do something from another charge attack to calling out out another retreat. But he didn't get a chance.
''Everyone put your hands behind your heads and get on your knees.''
That was Batman's voice. Batman's voice as how it would have normally sounded like when the Dark Knights' forms had not distorted them and when Batman Who Laughs shouldn't sound as cold as he did. The confusion of hearing it cause Thomas Jr to turn and be faced by Hilda and Brock, who had both been made to wear heavy looking collar that were making a beeping sound, violently pushed into the bridge while force to carry similar collars as they were wearing.
''Prez…'' Hilbert said from his low position, breaking out of his shock to look at Hilda and reached out to her as May and Dawn also noticed Brock.
''Collar or bullet, your choice,'' Batman's voice said again from outside the door as this new Nightmare Batman walked in.
This Nightmare Batman was tall and muscular with broad shoulders, almost looking like the original Batman did, but at the first glance everyone could see it was not him. Not just that that costume had more pouches for equipment, but because this Batman was also carrying firearms and knifes, while also holding everyone he saw as enemy at gun point.
''You filled you ranks after the Flash broke free from Red Death?'' Thomas Jr looking back at the Batman Who Laughs.
''Meet the Grim Knight,'' Batman Who Laughs said proudly presenting the new Nightmare Batman to them, ''the Batman who uses guns.''
''That's putting it mildly,'' Thomas Jr glancing at the weaponry carried by the Grim Knight who
TSAK!
hit him to the side of the head with the bottom of the gun and forced him on the floor.
''Final warning,'' the Grim Knight spoke kneeling down and placed the barrel of his handgun on Thomas Jr's head and his left hand's index finger on a button on his gauntlet. ''If none of you are not wearing your collar when I count to five, I will set them all to explode while shooting his head off.''
''You can see why I recruited him in reserve,'' Batman Who Laughs said as the Grim Knight pulled back the hammer of the gun. ''Did you know he is counting in his head?''
May and Dawn looked at Brock, then each other and put their collars on their necks at the speed of fear. Hilbert did the same with Hilda frighteningly helping him to do it while Jessie putting it on under peer pressure. Only N seemed take his time with a collar like he didn't understand how to wear it-
BLAM!
''Five,'' Grim Knight grunted after unloading a bullet in to N's uncooperative head. ''Too slow.''
''I thought you said-'' Batman Who Laughs was about to question-
''I know what I said, and you asked for hostages,'' Grim Knight told the Batman Who Laughs as he got up from keeping Thomas Jr at gunpoint and pointed at the Pokémon Trainers wearing his collars. ''Now you have them, and you can also waste your time working on your big brother.''
''Hostages?'' Thomas Jr said looking at the trainers forced to wear their collars.
''Yes, Big Brother, once this world is turned to energy to fire the Ultimate Thule through the Source Wall, it will be wise to have some human shields for when the heroes come to welcome us,'' Batman Who Laughs explained jovially. ''The Big Blue will slow down long enough for us to-''
BRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!
''What the-''
''Did the planet just move?''
''The-sinking-has-halted,'' Murder Machine spoke appearing on a screen at the bridge. ''The-cause-is-somewhere-down-at-Alola-Region. Getting-visual-now.''
''Uncle, come here,'' Damian called out for Thomas Jr to join him and the other Robins with Serena while Batman Who Laughs and the Grim Knight were focused on the communication with Murder Machine. ''Join us as family.''
''Not here, not now,'' Batman Who Laughs hissed as the screen showed footage from Alola. ''Not HIM! TELL DEVASTATOR TO GET HIS ASS TO ALOLA NOW!''
This sudden shift at the Batman Who Laughs' mood was noticeable for Thomas Jr and for the Pokémon Trainers wearing collars. Their attention was drawn to the screen he and the Grim Knight were looking at and, on that screen, they saw a man wearing the symbol of Hope pushing their world up from a mountain top.
Thomas Jr exchanged glances with May, Dawn and Brock, sharing with them an understanding of what that meant. If Superman was here now, that meant Ash must have been here too now, back their world, with the Metal to fight against the Dark Knights.
Next to Damian and his arm around her, Serena mouth twitched to a small grin to smile.
Author's notes: Until next Sunday, I will have a school deadline to finish an important report, so I won't even begin to write the next chapter until after March 24th. Now, I hope this chapter was worth the 3 months of waiting and I hope to hear from you so I can respond to your reviews on the beginning of the next chapter, when I get it posted.
Oh, and was is too much for Zinnia to call Batman 'Senpai'?