The finale's attack continues! (for 2-5 turns)

Poke-ball 27: Rescue

Red was too busy being electrocuted to notice the rest of the chaos around him. The bristled bundle of fur in his arms continued to shriek. But Red refused to let go or even scream. It wasn't like his Pikachu hadn't shocked him before. Pikachu were notorious for that, and Red's had always been especially vicious. He would survive this, just like the other times. "C'mon Pikachu..."

The electricity finally ceased, and Pikachu grew limp in his arms. Was Pikachu back to normal, or just tired from the attack? Cautiously Red looked down.

Pikachu was curling up in Red's arms, hiding its face in his shirt, ears down. "Chaaaa..."

Well that answered Red's question. He still held Pikachu close, glaring at Agatha.

Agatha smirked. "So friendship prevailed after all? How touching."

No...thought Red. Something's still wrong...

IIIIII

Sabrina sensed something was wrong too, but she couldn't pinpoint it in the mayhem. She was glad Lorelei had shown up, at least. Her visions had told her she was just as likely to take an alternate route to the Sevvi Islands as pass by Cinnabar. Her help was sorely needed, even if she acted with a careless stylishness as she ordered her Pokemon around. These monsters weren't new to her. Blue was doing surprisingly well, considering this was his first encounter with such creatures.

Blaine did nothing to stop Sabrina as she headed for Erika. That was true to all her visions as well. Cinnabar's Gym Leader had likely been unwillingly dragged into this mess. Either Agatha was unaware of his lack of action, or didn't care. The latter possibility bothered Sabrina.

What bothered Sabrina even further was a strange lack of visions beyond this point. Usually new visions quickly replaced the outdated ones. Not even visions of her own death had stopped her from seeing even further beyond that point. Which was incredibly useful for avoiding demises in the first place.

But now...nothing. Why?

Sabrina knew she had to be careful with Erika. Whatever was possessing her could end up taking over someone else if not dealt with properly. It could hurt Erika even further too.

Eyes glowing blue, Sabrina dove into Erika's mind. She could not pick up on specific thoughts, but she could detect what wasn't supposed to be there and eject it.

What Sabrina found, however, was not what she was expecting. But it explained everything.

"Red! Get away from Agatha!" shouted Sabrina. "She's one of them!"

"You mean she's another fake?" Red yelled back. "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

"All these monsters disguised her presence!" Sabrina shouted back. "But she's controlling Erika and Pikachu!"

Pikachu growled in Red's arms, crackling with electricity. But Red was ready for it, immediately recalling it into its Pokeball.

"Ah, so you knew?" asked Agatha.

"About Pikachu, yeah," said Red with a smirk. "He'd never snuggle up and whine like that. He avoids me if he feels bad." His expression sobered. "So where's the real Agatha? Y'know, so I can finally punch her."

Agatha chuckled. "You call us false beings, but you have no idea what true reality is. We are just as alive and dead as you. We are just more aware of it than you could ever be in your states."

"...What?" Red asked.

Blue was just as stupefied.

"...So you really have been consumed by them." Blaine growled, plucking a Pokeball off his belt. "I warned you..."

"Your warning was pointless even then," said Agatha. "And it is even more so now. We're here to rescue your lost souls. No one is leaving this island for hollow pastures. We are going to the true world."

IIIIII

Deep in a place with no light, a place of powerful creatures, an even stronger one stirred.

It knew what it needed to do.

...And Light discovered the handy-dandy line button in ffnet editing! XD Still sticking to the usual IIIIII for story transitions though.

Now we'll see how much this chapter throws Remi for a loop XP