-1Sultrie prepared to attack again, but Ninetales wasn't about to let some witch kill her. He had to do something…he had to. Suddenly, Ninetales began to glow red, which surprised Nox.
"What in the…" began Nox as Ninetales broke his bond.
As Sultrie fired another orb towards Shaina, Ninetales appeared quickly in front of Shaina and swatted it away.
"DON'T…TOUCH…HER!" said Ninetales.
Shaina looked at Ninetales and couldn't believe her eyes. Is this Ninetales?, thought Shaina, Why is he glowing red?
"WHAT'S GOING ON!" said Sultrie, looking at the red pokemon, "Care to explain, Equi".
"That's Rage", said Equi.
"What?"
"Rage. When pokemon enter Rage, their attacks become increased, but by the looks of this, I think all his stats have increased".
"Leave him to me", said Nox as he created another whip of flames, "This time, I'll burn you to ashes".
"BRING IT" replied Ninetales.
Nox went for Ninetales, swinging his whip, but by the time the attack reached him, Ninetales wasn't there.
"Where did he…AAAUUGH" shouted Nox as Ninetales tackled him from behind. Nox quickly got up and fired his fireballs towards Ninetales, but they just didn't seem to do any effect to him.
Charlie and the others stood spellbound to see Ninetales like this. Just then, Annabelle showed up on a piece of glass near them.
"Charles", said Annabelle, "Have you found the source of the problem".
Charlie, still spellbound, went towards Annabelle and picked her up.
"Annabelle", said Charlie, "Two things: first, have you met your other world self", pointing towards a recovering Annabelle, being held up by Flo and Sasha, "And second", Charlie took her to the battle below, "Do you know what's going on with Ninetales?"
Annabelle gasped as she saw the fox glowing red and taking on a demon. Nox had enough of being beaten by Ninetales that he shot a giant fireball towards him, burning everything in its path. Ninetales waited before opening his mouth and firing a yellow-orange beam right towards the fireball.
"That's a hyper beam", said Equi, "One of the most powerful attacks to pokemon".
Everyone watched as the hyper beam tore through the fireball, hitting Nox straight on the chest. Nox fell to the ground, defeated. Ninetales looked up straight towards Sultrie and Equi.
"This isn't possible", said Equi, "This is more than just Rage, it's a whole new power that I don't think even that pokemon knows".
Annabelle, still in the glass, had her jaw drop as Ninetales defeated the mysterious demon. Shaina was shocked to see Ninetales able to defeat Nox without sustaining an injury.
"Enough of this", said Sultrie, "Equi, go".
"Are you insane!" said Equi, "Did you see what he did to Nox!?"
"Either you go face him", said Sultrie, pointing towards the awaiting Ninetales, "Or you're going to deal with me".
"I'm going", said Equi, as he sprinted towards the Ninetales.
Ninetales braced himself, but saw that Equi paused in front of him. Equi just smiled at him.
"I know that fire type pokemon are weak against water", said Equi as he caused water to form in his hands, "So I have the advantage".
"THEN PROVE IT" said Ninetales.
"Very well then", said Equi as he caused water to cover his whole right arm, which instantly froze, making a blade made of ice. Equi charged right for Ninetales.
Ninetales tried to jump, but couldn't. Looking down, he saw that his paws were frozen to the ground. Equi used his magic to freeze him in place, in the way of his blade.
Ninetales tried to melt the ice, but it wouldn't melt.
"Ha", said Equi, still coming, "That ice is bewitched. You wouldn't be able to melt it even if you used your strongest Flamethrower. Say good-bye".
Equi swung his blade at Ninetales, cutting right through him.
"NO!" shouted everyone as they saw the attack was a success. Sultrie was about to smile until the decapitated Ninetales turned into a stuffed animal, a little Rhydon. Equi was angry.
"CURSE HIM", said Equi, looking in every direction, "How was he able to use Substitute when he was frozen to the ground".
Shaina sighed a breath of relief: she knew that Substitute was a risky move where a stuffed looking Rhydon doll takes the hit, but how was Ninetales able to use that move.
"Where are you", said Equi, but his question was answered as a burst of flames came from behind the bushes. Barley dodging the Fire Blast, he saw Ninetales, still red and ready to fight. Ninetales fired another Fire Blast, but Equi created an ice wall, which took the full blast.
"You're going to have to do better than that", said Equi.
"GLAD TO" said Ninetales as all his tails pointed skyward, his blue points glowing blue.
"Oh dear", said Annabelle, "I think he's about to use one of the most difficult moves to use: Overheat".
"What's that", said Itchy, still looking at the battle.
"Overheat", said Annabelle, "It's a risky move to use. It sends a full power fire blast towards an enemy, but the attack and the user become weaker with every attack afterwards".
Equi knew what was coming, so he sent all that he's got in one strong jet stream straight towards Ninetales.
Ninetales fired his Overheat , which was as big as a bus and burned the ground to black ash, and it made contact with the jet stream. The Overheat overtook the jet stream and overwhelmed Equi. When the attack was over, Equi was singed everywhere, where he fell to the ground, defeated.
Equi was right, thought Sultrie, This is no regular pokemon, this one seems to have a hidden power. He's strong, maybe as strong as Barkin…no, perhaps much stronger.
Through the smoke, she saw Ninetales, but this time, he was back to normal.
"What…happened", said the dazed pokemon.
Unbelievable, thought Sultrie, Equi was right again. This pokemon doesn't even know of the power within him. I have to take him out now before anything else can happen.
Sultrie threw a pebble to Ninetales, then quickly she yelled, "CRYSTAL IMPRISONMENT!"
Ninetales's body became engulfed in a pink crystal, trapping him. Ninetales struggled, but for some reason, he was exhausted.
"Why am I so tired?" said the struggling pokemon.
"You really don't know, do you?" said Sultrie, walking towards him, "Oh well, just the same. Time to say good bye for good".
Sultrie was preparing to attack Ninetales with her lightning ball when she got attacked by Shaina.
"SHAINA, NO!" shouted Ninetales, "GET AWAY FROM HERE!"
Sultrie swatted Shaina off, hitting her to the ground.
"THIS TIME, NO ONE CAN SAVE YOU!" yelled an enraged Sultrie, preparing for a final attack. Launching the attack, Shaina closed her eyes as she heard Ninetales shouting to get away, but then, she felt something, something soft and feathery. Opening her eyes, she saw Charlie had stepped forward to protect her, but he had wings.
"So, you finally appeared", said Sultrie, looking at the winged Charlie.
Charlie unfolded his wings as he stood to face Sultrie. Sasha, Bess, Itchy, and Flo were all glad to see him, while the others had their jaws drop to see the other world Charlie had wings.
"I could have been here sooner", said Charlie, "If I didn't have Belladonna to take care of". Charlie lifted Shaina and took her to the others, "Everyone ok".
"We're fine, Charlie", said Sasha, giving him a quick hug, "But Ninetales is still in trouble".
"I'll rescue him, don't worry", said Charlie as he left to get Ninetales.