AN: Flying through this last little bit! Only one chapter left after this! This battle is one of the scenes that fueled this entire story. Enjoy!

Chapter Warnings: Language, death, descriptive killing, gore…aka what you would expect in a massive battle

Pairing: Ash x Gary

Chapter 44 - Meteor

The cool spring air does nothing to soothe the rising tension across the Indigo Plateau. Rhythmic pounding echoes over the earth as the League slowly files from the mountain pass onto the open ground.

The League's momentum slows to almost a grinding halt as the narrow entrance onto the Plateau bottlenecks its massive numbers. Even the soldiers who have gotten through already refuse to move forward faster than an ambling walk. Giving plenty of time for soldiers behind them to file out and to the side once they make it though.

Steadily growing an enormous front line of soldiers and pokemon. Stretching almost all the way across the flat expanse.

Meanwhile, the Draconids rush about in confusion. They were expecting another few hours before the League appeared. Most of their pokemon still linger on the fringes of their camp. Absorbing whatever energy they can get to boost their power for battle.

They sprint back and forth as they try to locate their respective riding pokemon and flyers. Lieutenants scrambling to find their psychic pokemon to relay orders to the confused clansmen and clanswomen.

Gary hovers on his dragon next to Ash and the Alpha overlooking the confusion. Thankfully, the dragons were refitted in their armor early that morning. They took the time to strap on their own armor before mounting their powerful flyers.

Ash calls out to the Elders and Captains on his comms unit but gets only silence in return. The current and former Dragon Riders not having their helmets on yet as they try to control the mayhem below.

"This is ridiculous!" Gary yells out in frustration. "The League is still several miles away. It will take them at least an hour to get all the way over here. There's no need for this panic."

Growling in anger at the already lack of discipline to the plans they carefully made the day before, Gary calls out his psychic pokemon. Alakazam sits neatly behind him as it surveys the mass confusion below.

"Alakazam, relay my orders to all the Draconids." Gary calls out to his pokemon. He waits until he feels a strong pulse of psychic power radiate from behind him. The action already ceasing some of the movement below. The warriors recognizing the pulse as the prelude to commands from higher ups.

"Draconids!" Gary yells out clearly. His voice echoing back to him in his own mind due to Alakazam's power. "There is no need for panic. The League is still at least an hour out. Take your time to prepare your pokemon and eat breakfast. Your Lieutenants will issue your orders in 30 minutes. Elders and Captains, head to the Command Pavilion immediately."

Another surge of psychic power marks the end of the transmission. They stay in the air for several moments to make sure the orders are being followed. Once they see the other dragons swooping in to surround the open Pavilion, they nudge their dragons to descend.

Sliding down the Alpha's thick arm, Ash takes control of the situation. "After everyone has eaten, relay the orders we discussed yesterday to the Lieutenants. We need all the strength we can get to survive today."

His gaze passes over the Elders and Captains. Faces all grim and determined now that the war was finally about to begin. Their black armor glittering even in the dim light under the Pavilion.

"May Arceus protect us all." Ragna whispers.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

The Draconids stand silently in their formation. Their human forces dismally small compared to their approaching enemy. Their only advantage: having the room they need to release all of their pokemon. Raising the chance of their survival tenfold.

The League marches slowly onwards. Too tightly packed together to have many pokemon out besides those some of the soldiers are riding on. All of the League's forces are now on the Plateau. A solid black mass writhing toward them.

An echoing bellow stops the marching army in their tracks just a mere 100 meters away from the Draconid front line. Gary can hear it clearly across the flat expanse. There's a reason the League imports Explouds in from Hoenn. The loud noise pokemon can replicate a large variety of sounds. Its echoing voice able to be heard clearly from over six miles away even over the noise of 150,000 soldiers. The perfect way to give orders to such a large group. All the soldiers had to do was recognize the signal that had been drilled into their minds and respond accordingly.

But the Draconids' telepathic system is faster and less prone to error. Giving them just a slight advantage. Especially when their plan is to take the League off guard as often as possible.

Plus they had the dragons.

"Will they send a missive forward to demand our surrender?" Gerlach's voice echoes in his helmet.

"No." Ash answers solemnly. Shaking his head slowly at the thought of the League being that generous to their enemy. "They wouldn't have brought this many soldiers all the way here for just our surrender. They're here to annihilate us."

His answer is only greeted with silence. They all knew that this would come to battle anyway. No way they would surrender even if the League gave them the choice.

A palpable tension takes over the Draconid force as the League's army begins to undulate. Ranks parting like water as massive tanks crawl their way forward. The grating of the large metal treads setting their teeth on edge.

Squinting into the distance, Ash struggles to make out more details from his dragon's position on top of the Indigo City's barrier wall. The Alpha obliges his unspoken question. Sending an enhanced image of the tanks nearest to them.

Each tank houses an open compartment behind the main cannon. Each compartment occupied by a fully evolved pokemon. Ranging from a few of the League's starters to others such as an Arcanine, Rydon, and even a Gyarados. The atrocious pokemon having its own shallow bucket of water to rest in to prevent its scales from drying out.

The cannons themselves look almost shiny on the inside. Reflecting the early dawn light in odd ways.

Ash just stares at the strange contraptions blankly. Gary and him never learned about these weapons in their time at the Academy.

Another piece of information hidden away from them.

However, he has absolutely no idea why pokemon are manning the cannons. They have a hard enough time trying to figure out man-made items like potions. No way the League were able to train them to operate something as complicated as a 65 ton, combat-ready tank. No way at all. It would take an entire TEAM of human soldiers to operate that thing.

So what are they doing with it then?

"Shields up!" Gary's desperate voice yells out through Ash's helmet. The Beta already launching off the wall and hurtling toward the Draconid front line. "Shields up! Captains to the front line! Hurry!"

Trusting Gary's instincts, Ash launches immediately up into the air. Already feeling the psychic pulses as the Lieutenants receive their orders and pass them onto the rest of their squadron.

One by one, the dragons land before the front line. Spread evenly across the plateau.

"Hyper Beam! Destroy those tanks before they can fire!" Gary orders. The Alpha Dragonite already gathering energy in his large maw having heard the command through his mate. Ash chances a glance towards his partner. Gary doesn't meet his gaze. Just stares onward. Sea-green eyes locked onto the odd tanks.

It's only when he feels the power in the air begin to shift that Ash looks back forward. Eyes widening in horror at the weapons the League has managed to build.

Each tank pokemon is gathering their own energy. Pouring it into the large cannon sticking out of the front. Amplifying it through a series of lenses. So that instead of the wide Hyper Beam he has seen released by the dragons, it's almost laser-like in diameter. The beam so condensed and bright that he can't even see the army beyond it anymore.

The League found a way to make one of the deadliest attacks known to pokemon-kind even more devastating.

Catching on to his partner's plan, Ash glances behind him. A thin multi-color dome covers the Draconid forces. Growing thicker by the second as more Light Screens and Reflects are produced by the gathered pokemon.

But it won't be enough to hold back an attack as strong as an amplified Hyper Beam.

With a mighty roar, the dragons release their attacks. Aiming for the closest tanks before spreading out down the line.

Explosion after explosion rocks the Indigo Plateau. The amplified attacks backfiring into the League's ranks before they have a chance to be released.

Ash chokes on the resulting black smoke. Depriving him of the necessary oxygen his body needs. The cloying stench of burning flesh and fur assaulting his senses.

"Disperse the smoke!" He calls desperately into his comms unit. Voice hoarse from the wracking coughs.

Before the dragons can redirect the air to send the smoke up and away from the battlefield, a single beam of harsh light explodes forward between him and Gary.

The energy hums loudly. Almost growling in its intensity. Lighting up the area so brightly that it blinds his vision for several seconds.

The amplified Hyper Beam disperses the smoke on its path. Straight between the two ruling dragons and into the Draconid forces behind them. He can see Gary's sea foam eyes wide with shock across from him. Frozen with shock at the attack that just barely missed them.

With a mighty crash the beam hits the impromptu shield. Striking it at just the right angle to send it screeching upward into the upper atmosphere. Disintegrating the Draconids' defense in the process.

A mighty gust of air disperses the remaining smoke instantly. Revealing one last tank carrying a Snorlax. The weapon being too slow in getting to the League's front line. Too burdened by its massive charge to keep up with the other weapons. Protecting it from the first wave of attacks. Giving it plenty of time to fire off a shot and potentially taking out one of the Dragon Riders.

It was the smoke that saved them. The tank had no choice but to fire into the dense cloud and hopefully hit a Dragonite. Not having a chance to lock on to a target before the first round of explosions.

A large boulder hurtles through the air from their right. Landing square on the sleeping pokemon's bulging white belly. With a gurgling grunt, the stone crushes the gluttonous pokemon and the tank beneath it. The metal tearing with a screech. Leaving a pile of blood and scrap in its wake.

A roar of triumph rings out behind him. A small herd of Golem and Onix standing around a giant hole where they ripped the giant rock out of the ground.

We successfully repelled their first attack that was meant to wipe us out. It's in our favor now. Our moral is high. We need to attack. Now!

"Destroy the supports!" Ash calls out. His message picked up by Gary's and Silvanus' Alakazams.

The rock and ground pokemon behind him immediately stop their celebrating. With a grinding smash, they burrow into the surface of the plateau. Digging furiously to reach the tunnels they built the day before.

The ground before them rumbles as the supports holding the tunnels' shape begin to collapse. Cascading deep into the League's ranks. The earth splitting wide open in a series of shallow gorges. As if a giant pokemon raked the ground with massive claws.

Soldiers scream as they fall into the trenches. Only for their cries to be abruptly stop as they fall on sharpened stalagmites anchored to the tunnels' floor. Like rows of serrated teeth spearing its helpless prey.

An echoing cry from the League's Exploud urges the soldiers forward. Past the first 15 meters of their forces that were burnt to a crisp from the exploding tanks. Away from the treacherous traps at their rear.

The plateau lights up red as League pokemon are released into the now free space. Pokemon rushing forward with their masters behind them. Pokemon rocketing into the air to face the highly trained Aerials and their flyers in combat.

The League's counter attack has begun.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

Gary leaps down from his dragon as he slices the spiky head off of a Golduck. Jumping back up onto her back as she rockets by again. His training combined with his newfound reflexes and strength making him just as deadly as the sweepers the Aerials use in their stealth attacks.

Gary pants harshly as he sits on the back of the Beta. His dragon arcing wide around the battle to give him a much needed breather. Blood and gore slide off his armor in trails. Leaving a pink mist floating in their wake.

The scene below them is absolute carnage. While they took out a good amount of the League's forces with their initial two attacks. The soldiers just keep coming. Replacing their fallen brothers and pokemon the instant they are cut down. Trampling them into the rapidly deteriorating ground.

The smell was awful. Even through his mask, it threatens to choke the air out of him. The stench of burnt flesh and fur. The acrid fumes of poison. The rot of coagulating blood. All trying to kill him in their own right.

Even if he could get past the smell, the air quality itself was impossible to breathe. Smoke from countless fires. Dust kicked up from thousands of feet. Vaporized entrails. The air is so thick from things that just aren't….air.

Frank was right when he said the battlefield is a living nightmare.

His gaze locks onto a group of young Draconids that have banded together on their right flank. In their inexperience, they pushed too far forward into the League's ranks and are now surrounded.

Directing the Beta with the slightest push of his mind, he angles her toward the trapped group. As his dragon reaches the lowest point of her dive, he leaps down from her back. Landing on the shoulders of a League soldier. His spine slowing Gary's descent as it breaks in the process.

"Circle up!" Gary calls out. "Don't leave any blind spots!"

The young Draconids follow his orders blindly. Immediately crowding his sides as they form a tight circle facing outward.

"Move back to the front line!"

The Beta lands in front of them. Clearing their path with large sweeps of her armored tail. Swiping at any soldiers and pokemon that dare get close. Folding her unprotected wings close to her body to prevent them from being pierced.

Step by step they move closer to their comrades. Hacking and slicing as the League soldiers approach them.

Gary curses as the ranks suddenly part. A stampeding Rhyhorn aiming right for him. Its horn fortified with a sharp metal spike. Stained red from friend and foe alike that refuses to get out of its way.

Chancing a quick glance behind him, he sees the way clear from the Beta's efforts. Spreading his arms out, he lunges. Pushing the Draconids the rest of the way into relative safety.

Gary spins in place as he sheaths his sword. Using a pile of bodies as a springboard, he leaps onto the rampaging pokemon's back. Wrapping his hands around the base of the horn, he yanks as hard as he can to the side. Redirecting the spikes pokemon's path to go hurtling back through the League's ranks.

Raising his arms above his head, he's whisked away by his flyer before the enemy realizes they have one of the Draconid leaders in their midst. His Dragonite tosses him gently in the air. Redirecting the air to land him safely back on her back.

With a challenging roar, she dives back into the battle.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

Leaving Gary in charge of commanding the ground forces, Ash takes control of the sky. With his unit of Royals and the Alpha's unmatched speed and strength, no force can stop them.

It helps that most of the flyers the League released are unmanned. No need to waste good soldiers in the air when you know the enemy has superiority in that area of battle after all. The League just sent a few soldiers to control their mass of flyers and left the rest of their forces on the ground where they have the advantage.

Ash's Charizard and Pidgeot hover directly above and behind him. Attacking all pokemon that target his dragon's wings. Their own protected by hard scales and thick feathers compared to the thin membrane of the Alpha. The Dragonite's power of the air being so absolute that powerful wings aren't even needed to allow him to fly. As long as the small wings give him the slightest bit of lift, he can soar through the air without breaking a sweat.

He ducks as a stray Flamethrower from Charizard blasts too close for comfort. Striking a diving Pidgeotto that veered too close. The essential primary wing feathers disintegrating in the process. Sending the bird pokemon careening into a helpless tumble into the battle far below.

The Alpha darts upward. Whipping Ash's head back as he closes in on one of the League's aerial soldiers. Spinning upside down, the dragon flies over the Fearow as Ash slices downward. Lopping the soldier's head off of his shoulders before the pokemon even knew what happened.

That's when Ash notices the soldiers attire. The attire he himself wore not too long ago. The uniform of an Academy cadet.

Ash sits completely stunned as the soldier's body slowly falls off his flyer. The bird squawking in alarm as it sees its headless trainer fall past him in the air. The beak pokemon's cry cutting off as Charizard's jaws close around its thin neck. Sending the pokemon to follow silently after its trainer.

Ash clamps his jaw shut tight. All of the soldiers in the air are just cadets. Not even done with their program at the Academy yet. Tricked to fight against an enemy they know nothing about. Forced into a battle they have no chance of surviving just so the Draconids' Aerials will be distracted. Preventing them from attacking the League force from above.

Deciding quickly before logic can overwhelm him, he calls out to his first flyer. As Pidgeot dips closer to hear him over the wind, Ash yells out his orders. "Find Primeape! Take him into an isolated building in the Indigo City. Then start grabbing the airborne League cadets and take them to the building for him to watch. Just like we did on the ship."

The bird pokemon nods in understanding before darting to the right. Its sharp eyes already picking out the angry pig monkey pokemon far below them.

"Aerials! Only attack the pokemon! My Pidgeot will take all the airborne soldiers to the City as prisoners. The League actually sent the Academy cadets to fight us...I won't order the slaughter of children. They don't know what they are doing." Ash calls out into his comms unit. A psychic type picking up the orders and distributing them instantly.

When no challenge rises to fight his order, he directs the Alpha to the next group of flying pokemon. Maw open as it releases a scorching Fire Blast as they rocket by.

Once all the cadets are locked safely away in the City and guarded by his fighting type, the Aerials annihilate the remaining League flyers within the hour.

Allowing them to now assist the Grounders and attack the League from above.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

After seeing all their flyers killed, the League pulled back to their side of the plateau to regroup. Beyond the line of scorched earth from the destroyed tanks. The unspoken boundary between the two sides in this battle.

Not looking a gift Ponyta in the mouth, the Draconids spread out in exhaustion. Getting what little rest they can as they fill their stomach to replenish their depleted energy stores.

Healers dart back and forth among the troops. Distributing aid when needed and carrying bodies away into the City. Protecting their deceased comrades from being trampled in the renewed fighting later. Giving them a chance to receive a proper burial once the battle is over.

The Aerials perch on the towering Indigo City walls. Taking breaks in shifts to eat and rest. Always having at least a few squadrons keep their Keen Eyes on their enemy. Looking for any sign they might charge again or plan some long range attack.

The Elders and Captains are once again in the Command Pavilion. Redirecting the Draconids based on what they saw from the earlier battle. For once, there is only quiet conversation among the Draconid leaders. No petty bickering as they focus on the task of keeping their people alive.

Leaving Ash to supervise the plans, Gary jumps onto Pidgeot's back. Directing Ash's first flyer to take him to where she took his partner's Primeape and the cadets.

The bird pokemon lands with a flurry of wingbeats in front of a large police station. Walking through the open door, he makes his way into the abandoned building. Pulling off his helmet and lowering his mask in the process.

Papers litter the floor of the spacious reception area. Most of the doors are open leading to messy offices. Half-eaten donuts and cold coffee sit on a low table against a wall. All pointing to the rapid evacuation of the City.

Hearing whispered voices down the hall, Gary steps further into the building. Turning the corner, he spots Ash's pokemon bouncing in place as it watches over almost 100 child soldiers in various open holding cells. Ages ranging from the soon-to-graduate 18 year olds all the way down to kids who are just 14. This attack probably being their very first mission.

Even the hardened teens have a look of fear in their eyes when they register his presence. He can't blame him. He knows what he must look like now. Wearing his black plated Dragon Rider armor and covered in blood and guts...they probably think he's the Angel of Death himself coming to take their souls to damnation.

A few cadets start to cry in the background.

Sighing in exhaustion, he sits down in a chair that's next to the pig monkey jailor. He pats fighting type's head absentmindedly as his gaze roams over the League's young soldiers.

He sees no rebellion in their eyes. Just fear and confusion. Probably utterly traumatized from what they've been through in the past few hours. Having no urge to band together to fight off their one lonely guard to rejoin the battle.

What the fuck am I supposed to say to them now?

"I'm not here to kill you." He states gruffly. The children huddle further away from him. The older cadets shielding the others with their bodies at the sound of his voice.

Fuck. I shouldn't have started like that. Dammit...What would Ash say?

"Look." He tries again. Leaning forward in the chair to lay his forearms across his thighs. Trying to be as non-threatening as possible. "I know what you are going through. My name is Gary. I graduated from the Academy a few months ago."

He pauses as gasps of recognition fly through the gathered League soldiers. The whispers getting louder as they share stories they've heard of this legendary cadet that is somehow in front of them now. One of the poster children of the Academy when it was still gaining popularity years ago.

"Why?" One lone cadet talks above the others. A boy, maybe 16, that reminds him a lot of Ash. Short with dark hair. Curiosity burning in his dark orbs. "Why did you take us as prisoners? Why are you fighting with the Dragon Riders if you are a League soldier? Are you a spy?"

Gary shakes his head quickly before the idea can plant themselves into their heads. "Of course I'm not a spy. The League just isn't who they say they are alright? They are really, really bad people. I can't explain it now. I don't know when the fighting will start again."

He pauses as he takes in their confused expressions. Some even morphing to anger at the thought of his "traitorous actions" of abandoning the Academy that raised him.

"We removed you from battle to save your lives. The League shouldn't have brought untrained cadets to the battlefield to begin with." His voice rising above the shouts from the older cadets that they were completely trained already.

"Enough!" He yells out. Silencing the room immediately. Wiping the grime from his forehead, he reveals his bond mark. "See that? That's a Dragon Rider mark. There's a Prophecy passed down through the generations that the League knows. The King of the Drakes has returned to help save the world from bad people. That includes saving you guys. So just sit tight and we will come back later once this is over alright?"

Not wanting to argue with children any longer, he turns on his heel and squats down next to Ash's pokemon. Giving it orders to make sure all the cadets are fed and let out if they need to relieve themselves.

With their "prisoners" taken care of, he trudges back out into the noon sun. Stretching his aching muscles before mounting Pidgeot to fly him back to the Pavilion.

To his surprise, there are a few more faces under the large tent. Familiar ones.

Dressed in full battle gear, Lt. Surge salutes him smartly with a shit ass grin on his chiseled face. Misty stands to his right dressed in a tight body suit. Dark blue in color covered in overlapping fish scale armor. She waves at him cheerfully.

"Hiya Gary! I told you we would bring help didn't I?" She chirps playfully.

Raising an eyebrow at her comment, Gary looks around questioningly. Searching for the other gym leaders that have supposedly been gathered.

"Oh they are helping with the wounded and the defenses I think." Misty mentions as she notices her searching gaze. "We were able to get all of them to come help except for that old geezer that runs Viridian. The gym was locked up tight by the time we go there. No one home."

"Sorry we are a bit late Asshole." Surge buts in. Swinging a heavy arm over his shoulders. "Took longer to fly around the country that I thought. At least you aren't dead yet!" The League spy bursts into loud laughter. Its booming echoes turning the heads of several Draconids who are walking by them.

Gary shrugs off the arm in irritation. The man just gets on his nerves. Helpful or not, Surge is still a dick.

"Enemy approaching."

The psychic command echoes through their minds. Causing instant chaos as the Draconids rush back to their posts to meet the approaching League soldiers once again.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

"Something's wrong." Ash whispers from his side. The Alpha and Beta Dragonites have resumed their post at the top of the wall. Waiting to see where they are needed once the fighting starts again now that the sky is under Draconid control.

Gary fidgets uneasily on his dragon. Ash is right. Something is definitely wrong with the League's approach. They are no longer riding on any pokemon or marching with them. There are no large weapons such as the tanks or the trucks with the net cannons.

Just soldiers marching side by side. Steadily coming closer to the Draconid forces.

It's unsettling. Never, never has the League marched with no pokemon at their sides. It's ridiculous that they would put themselves at such a large risk.

Which means they are going off the record. They're about to do something that they were never taught in Battle Tactics. Something that is unnerving Gary to his very core.

Flashes of red light up the Plateau as a horde of pokemon are released. But the light doesn't dissipate completely like it usually does. A hazy glow of red hovers around the heads of the pokemon.

And not just any pokemon either.

These pokemon are beyond massive. Reaching proportions that shouldn't be possible for their species.

Just like Jessie's Arbok and James' Pinsir.

His growing anger and confusion doubles as the League begins to retreat. Rapidly backtracking away from the enormous pokemon.

Some don't move fast enough. Getting mauled from the supposedly extremely well-trained pokemon that the League are known for. The giant beats ripping the soldiers apart like rag dolls. Flinging their body parts all over the ground before turning to fight each other.

The rabid snarls and roars from the middle of the battlefield were so malicious and evil that it made the hair on the back of his next stand up.

Just what are those things?

Gary watches as the Elders give the signal to move forward. The Grounders steadily marching forward to intercept the titans before they make a move to rush the Draconids.

That was a mistake.

A shockwave goes through the League pokemon. Freezing them in place for just a moment. Ash gasps suddenly next to him. Sitting as still as a statue on top of his dragon. But Gary doesn't look over. He's too busy studying the strange phenomenon occurring in front of them.

As one, the behemoths turn toward the marching Draconids and charge. Bursting through the front lines as if they were just parting stalks of wheat in a field. Rushing into the middle of the Draconid forces and just...destroying everything.

The Aerials and Dragonites launch immediately to counter the extremely dangerous new foe. Dive bombing onto the titans. Using momentum to their advantage to leave large gouges in the enemy.

But they don't even flinch. They don't cry out in pain and retreat. They just fight onwards. Their anger growing exponentially as they continue to fight with wounds that should've killed their normal sized brethren.

Gary's Beta lands in front of a massive Machoke. Easily 3 or 4 feet bigger than the fully evolved superpower pokemon that Bruno trains with. Almost up to the shoulder of his towering dragon.

The Beta grabs its arms that swing up to pummel her sides. She grunts at the strength needed to keep the massive pokemon in check. Her feet begin to slide backward on the blood saturated ground as the fighting type begins to overwhelm her.

Drawing his Beretta, Gary whips the gun forward and aims for the pokemon's eye. Its forehead being too well protected with its head spikes to deliver a normal headshot.

But its eyes...are glowing.

Glowing red.

Red as blood. Glowing with an inner bloodlust that powers its every move.

The same odd glowing red that attacked him all those years ago in Pallet Town.

With a massive twisting motion, the Machoke slams his dragon into the ground. Flinging him off her back in the process.

He hits the ground with a grunt. His gun flying out of his hand to be lost in the sea of newly deceased bodies.

An echoing bellow from just feet away causes him to roll instinctively. A giant fist smashing into the earth where his head had been just seconds before.

His dragon cries out in concern for him. She launches off the ground. Body Slamming the fighting type away from her trainer. Knocking them both over and skidding along the ground.

Launching upward before those powerful muscles can get her in a chokehold, she powers up for an Ice Beam. Blue light gathering in her mouth as she darts in midair. Dodging bodies thrown by the angered enemy.

The Beta releases the Ice Beam. Starting at Machoke's feet and moving upward. Anchoring it to the ground and creating a giant iceberg in the middle of the battlefield.

Panting harshly, she lands next to him with a grunt. Offering her arm for him to climb back aboard.

Before he can sit properly, her head whips to the side. Eyes darting back and forth as she whines in worry. Gary grips her armor tightly as she launches in the air. Speeding across the Plateau in seconds as she aims for her mate.

There Ash stands in a small patch of clear ground. His arms stretched out towards a Rhydon twice his size. The Alpha wrestling with a massive Blastoise several yards away. The Royals furiously attacking from above but doing nothing more than irritating the beast.

"Stop! I command you to stop!"

Ash's words echo eerily in his mind. The force behind them overwhelming. Locking up his limbs immediately at the command. Even his dragon seems affected. Her flight faltering as if she's struggling to keep in the air.

But his gaze remains locked onto his partner. The horror overcoming Ash's face when all nearby Draconid pokemon immediately freeze while the red eye titans barely even flinch. His now frozen allies helpless as the giant pokemon slice through them with no resistance whatsoever.

Seeing the Rhydon raise is clawed hand, he pushes past the strange lingering command that has control over his body and urges the Beta forward.

She dives at the last moment. Sweeping Ash into her arms as she slides along the ground. Away from the Rhydon that almost killed his partner.

"Ash! What the fuck just happened?!" Gary yells out angrily. Leaping off his dragon as he checks on his partner. Unharmed but eyes still wide in shock.

"I don't understand." Ash mutters. "It was the same feeling as before. They were supposed to stop. Why didn't they stop?"

Heath and Silvanus drop out of the sky to land at their sides. Their dragons launching forward to free the Alpha and engage the Blastoise and Rhydon in Battle.

"What do we do?" Heath's young voice echoes in his helmet. "Even the Dragonites can barely handle these things! And there are hundreds of them!"

Gary doesn't answer him. He doesn't know what to say. They only have seven Dragonites to face hundreds of these monsters.

There's just no way they can fight them all.

They are all going to die.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

Why didn't it work?

The question echoes in his mind as he replays the last few seconds over and over again. Ash knows he used that strange power correctly. All of the Draconid pokemon stopped immediately in the tracks. Only to be cut down seconds later from the seemingly unaffected League pokemon.

Does it not work on the pokemon that belong to trainers? I've only used it on the wild pokemon at Mt. Silver before now...but then why were the Draconid pokemon affected? This makes no sense.

"What do we do? Even the Dragonites can barely handle these things! And there are hundreds of them!" The Burgundy Cloud Rider yells out in worry. Breaking through his thoughts and bringing Ash back into the battle.

"Power up another Hyper Beam. We will take them out like we did with the tanks." His partner orders as the brunet leaps back onto his dragon.

Fail.

The word echoes through his mind as the Alpha steps back up to him. Lifting him back onto the dragon's large back before taking off once more.

"That won't work. They are too spread out. The Dragonites don't have enough power left for such a large attack anyway." Ash's father quickly answers from his position on the other side of the plateau.

A picture flashes through his mind so fast that Ash doesn't even register it until he feels the Alpha pulling away from him mentally. As if it accidently sent the picture and is now trying to retreat into its own mind. Hiding it away from him.

What is it? He thinks. Show me.

He feels that power surge through him again. Before he can begin to feel bad about commanding his pokemon with the strange power, his mind is assaulted with images.

The strange power opens a floodgate in his mind. Now no longer singular images stitched together in a jerky fashion. But now it's as if a full blown video dances along the back of his eyelids.

He can clearly make out the first King of the Drakes on his Dragonite. Climbing higher and higher into the atmosphere. They pause miles above the surface of the Earth. Closing their eyes, power surges from the duo. Cloaking them in the harsh blue light of the dragon's sacred energy. As one, they begin to fall. Plummeting towards the ground as the energy swells and grows. A giant blue fireball hurtling down from above.

With a mighty crash, they collide with the ground. Exploding the energy outward in a massive explosion that wipes out the entire army of enraged pokemon it was aimed at. Disintegrating everything in its blast radius.

The most powerful of dragon type attacks. The attack that caused the death of the first King of the Drakes as he sacrificed himself to win the ancient war so many years ago.

Draco Meteor.

Awareness slams into Ash as the connection fades. Air flooding his lungs in rapid pants as his mind moves at the speed of light. Digesting what he just saw and creating the most reckless plan he has ever thought of in his life.

Their only hope.

"Retreat!" He yells out. "Retreat into the City! Aerials, distract the League pokemon long enough for the Grounders to disengage. Captains, use whatever attacks you have left to create a trench or barrier that those monsters can't cross. Then all of you, get to the City! Set up a barrier like we did with the tanks. I'll take care of the rest."

As the first wave of psychic energy pulses over the Plateau issuing his orders, he launches the Alpha into the sky. Lying almost flat against the dragon's back as it climbs higher and higher. Ignoring the calls of his name through his headset. Tuning out the cries for him to come back.

A tear slides down his cheek.

The Alpha rumbles beneath his fingertips. Sending a sad but calming wave through his mind. At least his pokemon understands what they have to do.

He has no choice but to follow in the first King's footsteps in order to save his people. He has to sacrifice himself so the League can be destroyed and the Draconids can live on.

I only hope the barrier and City walls will be strong enough to protect them.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

"ASH!" Gary calls out desperately.

His partner continues to ignore him as they climb into the upper atmosphere. The Beta had transmitted the Alpha's thoughts to him the instant that strange command floated through their minds again. The dragons' mating bond somehow transferring the command to his dragon as well.

Gary was struck speechless. He knew the first King died in the Final Battle but to sacrifice his life like that? Was he really that desperate to end the fighting back then?

As desperate as they are now?

Ash's orders gave him a sudden clarity. A growing sense of horror that fills his being as his partner and the Alpha Dragonite climb into the sky. Following the same path that the first King followed to save the humans so long ago.

He's going to sacrifice himself...

NO!

His dragon screeches in agony as she rockets after her mate. Furiously trying to catch up to them as they climb higher. Quickly approaching the point where Ash and the Alpha will gather their energy to begin their fall.

Again and again he calls out to his partner only to be met with silence. His voice catches in his throat when a drop of water hits his face followed by another.

Ash is crying.

The Beta puts on a new burst of speed as Ash and his dragon slow down to a stop. She crashes into them before they begin to gather the necessary energy. Locking her mate's arms down and roaring into his face.

"Ash look at me!" He practically screams across the small space separating them. His partner's gaze is locked onto the Alpha's neck. Tears tracks cutting through the grime and gore on his tan face.

"I have to Gary." The raven mutters. "It's the only way that I can stop those...those things. The League can't even control them. They just unleashed them on us and retreated before they got caught in the carnage."

Gary wishes desperately that he can crawl across the close distance to reach his partner. But he has a feeling that as soon as the Beta lets go, Ash will take advantage of the situation and begin their plummet. Not even his speedy dragon will be able to catch up to them then.

"We'll find another way. There's nothing the two of us can't do. I won't let you throw away your life like this!" He yells angrily. His dragon shaking the other two to further his point.

Defiant brown eyes meet his abruptly. The flecks of red in their depths glittering dangerously. "What else am I supposed to do then Gary?! I'm the King now! I have to protect those people! Draco Meteor is the only attack strong enough to take those pokemon out and only the Alpha has enough power reserves left to charge the attack. I. Have. No. Choice."

Gary's dragon whines piteously. As if trying to convince her mate to change Ash's mind. The Alpha just stares back at her silently. Not even fighting her hold as he enjoys the last few minutes he has left in her embrace. Large grey orbs staring back at her with love and sadness.

She shakes her large head back and forth slowly. With another whine she buries her head in the Alpha's neck. Her large form shaking.

Together.

The word echoes in his mind. Full of sadness and longing.

She wants to die with them…

But Ash is already shaking his head. Denying her request before Gary can even voice it. "The Draconids won't be able to hold off a combined attack from two Draco Meteors. Besides...they need someone to lead them once I'm gone."

The small smile Ash sends his way is the final blow to the walls that Gary spent so many years building over his years as a soldier. The walls that cracked and fractured when he held Ash's dying body on that roof. The walls that began to tumble after the special moment they shared when he saved those children from the rockslide.

He can't let Ash go now.

Not now that his heart and mind are finally open to welcome his partner with open arms.

Tears build at the back of his eyes as the scene plays through his mind again. Of the first King hurtling to his death. Slamming into the Earth with so much force that not even their remains were found afterwards. They had to put every ounce of energy they had left to fuel Draco Meteor. They had nothing left to slow their ascent to save their lives.

Wait…

With a gasp, he remembers their attack on the Academy. How the three Dragonites created an immensely pressurized air bubble around themselves to direct their momentum in the ground to control the direction of the Earthquakes. How they saved themselves from injury by turning the fall into a cushion as well as a weapon.

But Ash needs all of their energy and concentration to form the Draco Meteor. They won't be able to form that air bubble at the same time. Unless...

He looks down at his dragon. Her grey orbs glistening with determination and gratitude. Already catching onto his plan through their bond.

Show him. Gary orders. Playing the scene over in his mind for her to transmit to the Alpha.

Ash's eyes widen and lock onto his immediately. Mouth hanging open in disbelief as the images flying through his mind. "Draco Meteor may be the only way to save everyone." Gary begins. "But we won't let you do it alone. We will keep you alive. By doing this together."

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

Miles above the earth, two Dragonites float in a lazy circle. Heads bowed in concentration as they cling to one another. Their black clad riders anchored tightly to their armored hides.

The Alpha growls as blue fire consumes its body. Spreading out along his thick arms to engulf his mate. The flame bursts to life and swells in size. Feeding off of the power of the large dragon and the raven on its back.

As one, the four begin to fall. Speed increasing exponentially as they plummet towards the earth. Flames trailing behind them in long trails.

Ash gasps in shock as his mind merges with his dragon. No longer a prick of feeling at the back of his mind but now a total melding of their thoughts and emotions. Feeling the raging draconic power rushing over his skin as they hurtle through the air at beyond remarkable speeds. So that he was not only Ash Ketchum but also the Alpha Dragonite of Mt. Silver. Immensely powerful and protective.

The air swirls angrily between the two riders. Circling back and forth as it pushes the energy outward. Creating a small cocoon inside the raging inferno. Condensing so fast that it begins pulling the air from his lungs. Struggling to get dense enough to protect them from the oncoming collision.

The energy howls and screeches around them. Struggling to get past the Alpha's control as his previously endless energy now begins to falter. Too worn out from all the prior fighting.

Ash pants in exertion as the attack pulls his life force from him. Out through the bond he shares with his dragon. He struggles to open his eyes. Forcing his blurry gaze to focus on the scrunched up face of his partner.

I have to tell him. I can't die again without telling him.

He says those three little words over and over in his mind. Pushing them though the Alpha's mind and across to the Beta through their mating bond. Pushing it all the way to his partner across from him.

He smiles sadly as those sea foam eyes fly open in shock. Locking onto his immediately. Gary's face frozen in disbelief at what was just relayed to him. His entire body frozen in place even as the blue flames roar around him.

Just those three little words.

With an explosion of enormous power, they crash into the center of the Plateau.

And blue fades to black.

xxx-War of the Dragon Riders-xxx

AN: Oh hot damn. Did I just do that? I did. I did. Soooo figure out what happened in Pallet Town yet? Any guesses?

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Next up: Chapter 45 - Gone