A/N- Okay so... I dunno what to say. My characters are way too flippant maybe, and insanity/mental illness is a pretty big thing in my stories. I have enough inspiration to finish this story though! You'll see!
And uh... btw, I'm rushing. A lot.
Chapter 7
Taking Storm to Power
Ellie was frozen with shock.
What… just happened…?
She was confronting Manectric over her guilt, and then… no, Manectric wasn't guilty, was she? Why was she so eager for Manectric to be at fault for everything that had happened? Then came the ominous creak, then Ellie had felt intense pain in her side as she flew back… Her eyes widened as she looked upon the wreckage, finally settling before her horrified eyes. Manectric had shot her that one last regretful smile, then disappeared from sight.
"Wait… wait, no!" She finally found her senses and forced herself to scramble over to the fallen structure of ice. It was as if a haze was clearing from her mind.
"Manectric? Manectric, answer me!" She began to claw furiously at the pile of ice that hid her friend. They were friends, right? Of course they were… why didn't that thought stop Ellie in time? "Manectric!"
She could almost hear a jeering laugh, a voice echoing in her ears, although she didn't know whose, "See? See? See? See what you have done. You deserve to live with this."
The ice scratched over her paws and legs, causing long streaks of blood to burn through her fur. She grasped more frantically, her movements becoming shaky. Her paws slipped over the ice, and she finally slowed her movements down, realizing that she was unable to do any more. She padded backwards, shaking her head in delirium.
"No… no… Arceus, what have I done?" she whispered, her voice cracking, unable to take her eyes off the ice that buried Manectric. "What have I done?"
Why did she say what she had?
Manectric had been determined to finish through, even though she'd been the one dragged into the fight by Ellie herself.
Ellie hung her head in guilt. She'd driven Manectric to the point where they would have parted ways, possibly forever. Agitation had made Manectric's coat spark, and those very sparks… Those sparks were the reason the already weak structure collapsed, and then…
Manectric had pushed her out of harm's way.
And now she lay dead under the ice.
"I'm such a fool," Ellie murmured dryly. "I shouldn't have said that."
"Indeed you shouldn't have."
Ellie's eyes widened, and she turned around. "Uxie? Azelf?"
The two rogues floated towards her, followed by…
"Mesprit, I thought you weren't going to help us…" Ellie sniffed.
She scoffed. "I wasn't."
"Then…"
Azelf rolled her eyes. "I never really had the chance to properly introduce myself," she said, ignoring Mesprit. "I'm Azelf, the being of Willpower. I would have helped you anyway, so I have no problem with the deal I made to you all and Suicune that day," she said, smiling. Then that smile faded. "Where's Suicune?"
Uxie frowned as well. "Could it be…"
"He's dead," Ellie said shortly. Mesprit snorted.
Uxie shot a glare at her sister, but her expression soon morphed into one of remorse. "I had worried about as much," she said.
"Anyway, what are you doing here?"
Mesprit flicked one of her tails in annoyance. "I wasn't going to be here, but—"
Azelf cut her off. "Actually, we felt waves of distress from Rayquaza coming from here. He was calling out, I think, to the rest of the rogues. Crying." She frowned, and Uxie continued.
Crying? Ellie thought.
"We actually weren't expecting to find you here," she was saying. "We found Mesprit and dragged her out here, but by then, Rayquaza had gone."
"And then we saw you and Manectric. Mesprit filled us in on what happened to Star." Uxie shot a glare at Mesprit, who responded with a brilliant smile. "But then… I guess you kind of lost it with all the death of your loved ones, hmm Ellie?"
Ellie nodded and lowered her eyes, determined not to let her shame show.
There was silence. "So, what will you do now, dear?" Mesprit asked sweetly.
Ellie frowned. "I guess… I'll have to storm the Center and bring them down. Finish through, you know? Especially since so many already died for our cause…"
Mesprit actually looked satisfied. "Well then, good," she said. "I'm just glad I'm not rebelling by a fool."
Now Ellie looked at her in confusion. "What?"
Mesprit wailed, "They forced me into agreeing, the idiots." She pointed at her two sisters accusingly and they had the decency to look guilty.
Ellie almost cracked a smile. Almost. "We need a plan."
Uxie nodded. "I've already calculated the best strategies and routes into the Center and against the Authorities. Unfortunately…"
"We'll have to sneak in somehow. Would illusory powers—?"
"No," Azelf cut in. "The Grass Region was not a high security Region, so it was easy for you to travel through disguised before, but the Center is tight. You won't be able to get by under the Authorities."
"How did you…?" Ellie trailed off, shooting an accusatory glance at Mesprit. She shrugged. "But Latias…"
Now Mesprit spoke mockingly, "She was a fool. She was distraught by her grief and despair and that emotion clouded her sight."
Uxie frowned. "That's harsh, Mesprit."
"But true."
Azelf cut in, "All seventeen entrances to the Center are guarded now, although some are actually hidden since those Regions have been destroyed. There is no possible way in through stealth, is there?"
"There was a tunnel leading into the Center," Ellie put in. She frowned. "But now…" She remembered Xatu crawling out of the collapsed tunnels in tears.
"The tunnels are sealed off forever now," Uxie said heavily, nodding. "And honestly, I was relying on them too, seeing how useful they were to you."
"Are there still pipes down below?" Ellie asked, remembering Suicune saying something about pipes.
Suddenly, all of them looked horrified, including Mesprit, who momentarily stopped flipping them off to shudder fearfully.
"No," Uxie said quietly. "Anything but the pipes."
"Why?" Ellie asked, still wondering what could be down there.
Azelf shook herself. "I'm assuming Suicune was the one who mentioned the pipes?" When Ellie nodded, she continued, "Down there… it's dangerous. He probably was reluctant to say why, and I actually don't blame him, as arrogant as he is…"
Uxie looked sad. "He, Entei, and Raikou were sent down there once, to train with the three swordsmen who now patrol the pipes. All of them used to be sane once. Only Suicune still was by the end of the trip. See… he fell in love with Virizion and she was equally in love with him. However, she also loved hurting others that trespassed down there, although not as badly as her brothers. At least she wouldn't kill them. She eventually decided a life under there, a life of sadism was better than Suicune, and broke his heart."
Ellie's throat felt dry. "Then…?"
Uxie continued, "He left all of them, and in doing so, he left the Center."
"Good riddance," Mesprit said mockingly.
"You all left too," Ellie pointed out, and Mesprit made a rude gesture.
Azelf finally said, "The pipes were once safe. But now with those three—"
"Nope," Mesprit broke in again, grinning. "Virizion's dead now. Her brothers turned on her after she decided to let a Buizel off with few wounds and a warning. Keldeo's taken her place. He's become a much more sadistic Pokémon after his bitter loss to Meloetta last year. In fact, I'm sure it would be truly reasonable for me to say that they've all last their sanity now."
The other two looked horrified.
"Then that jolt we felt three months ago…" Azelf trailed off.
Uxie looked down, keeping her eyes trained on the snow below her.
Ellie sighed, then attempting to get back on topic, "Then what? Pipes and tunnels are out of question… Pretend we're some other Pokémon making a visit to some other?"
"They'd never fall for that," Uxie muttered.
"Tch, you fools with your elaborate planning that won't help in the end," Mesprit said scornfully. "Just fight all the way through."
"I've already considered that," Ellie said quietly. "But I don't really want to…"
Azelf looked over at Mesprit, who raised a brow questioningly. "That…" She sighed in reluctance. "That might just be our best shot."
Ellie wanted to argue that, but she knew, deep down, that they wouldn't get anywhere with any other idea.
"All right then," she said. "We'll do that." Ellie looked over at the ice mound behind her, thinking of something else. "Can you…"
Azelf raised a brow questioningly.
"Can you maybe lift the ice?" Ellie asked in a small voice.
Mesprit's eyes glowed, the ice following suit. Seconds later, the blocks lifted into the air, several dripping blood, and settled to the side. There, lying where the ice had just been, was the broken form of Manectric.
Ellie rushed to her friend's side, praying that what she thought was true wasn't, but even as she approached the canine, she knew she was gone.
Crouching by the Electric Pokémon's cold body, she pressed her nose into Manectric's cold fur, praying for luck, asking for the strength to carry this mission to its end, like Manectric had wanted.
"I'm so, so sorry," she whispered quietly, her eyes closing in that one moment. "This was all my fault."
XXX
Latias frowned as she got back to the Center much earlier than she'd expected. Didn't she normally get back later in the day?
Well, maybe she'd simply checked on the eight Regions faster than usual. She nodded, accepting that guess. She was getting faster. That was good. She still missed the reflection of herself that had always danced by her side before. He still was there, in a sense, in spirit.
But she'd never forgive his murderers.
"Latias, you're back."
She spun around to see Registeel, speaking in his normal monotone drawl. She nodded. "Yes."
"They are coming. Leader has given orders to stall them, or kill them if possible, while they prepare to execute their final step for our utopia. Most of us are scattered throughout the Center. The citizens have all been told to stay within their homes. Kyogre, Lugia, Manaphy, Phione, and Heatran are guarding in the lakes under the bridges that mark the Center's entrances. You're guarding the skies with Ho-Oh, Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos."
"Why Heatran?"
"He's a very strange specimen. In all the years I have worked with him, that is all I am able to conclude," said Registeel. "Take your position."
She nodded, and took to the skies.
XXX
"Why can't we just use the Ice Region's bridge?" Ellie asked, keeping a steady pace by the three rogues as they traveled towards the Normal Region's bridge.
"The Authorities tore it down as soon as the Ice Region was inadvertently destroyed by Rayquaza," Azelf explained. "Now I believe there are only eight or nine bridges left intact. We could attempt flying over the water and carrying you with our Psychic, but I fear what may lurk in the depths of the lake below. Teleporting isn't an option either, as that would alert the Authorities of our whereabouts."
Ellie frowned, but she nodded in understanding. The four of them lapsed into silence as they continued on.
"Who's guarding the bridge?" she asked to no one in particular.
"Raikou. Don't be fooled by his calm and collected exterior. He'll easily kill upon command. And I believe killing was part of the command issued when Leader set the Authorities out," Uxie said.
"There," Mesprit broke in, stopping them all. She floated low to the ground. She motioned forward, at a lone figure stalking back and forth by a long thin structure. Her sisters lowered themselves.
"He still hasn't seen us," Uxie said quietly. "Thank Arceus he doesn't have good long-distance hearing either."
Raikou paused for a moment, lifting his head to the sky, then resumed walking.
"Okay," Mesprit began, grinning, "I'll push him into the water, and he'll electrocute the water and any other Pokémon that are—"
"No," Uxie said sternly. Mesprit looked disappointed, but shrugged. "Fine."
"You think you can hold him in place and restrain his attacks with your Psychic?" Ellie asked the three of them.
Uxie nodded. "I can. I'll even distract him if he manages to break the bonds, with battle if necessary."
"The rest of us will run past, then I guess you'll have to catch up," Ellie said. She frowned. "Do you think you can do that?"
Uxie smirked. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
Ellie nodded firmly. "Whenever you're ready."
Uxie focused her powers on Raikou, and he suddenly froze. "Now," she hissed, flying out. Raikou's eyes landed on her and he snarled, his claws treading the ground as he couldn't move. His coat sparked, but before he could unleash an attack, Mesprit flew out, throwing a small thin projectile at him.
She immediately flew right past him, into the Center. Ellie and Azelf quickly followed and Raikou hissed in fury. He shuddered once, twice, then broke free of the Psychic that bound him. He leapt towards Ellie, claws out, but Uxie was suddenly in front of him. Jerking away from her, he twisted his body in midair, flipping back until he landed on all fours some distance away.
Ellie and Azelf finished crossing the bridge, turning back to Uxie. "Come on!" Azelf called. Uxie nodded, but forced more of her will over Raikou, holding him in place again.
He spat, his eyes full of hatred. "You three… as foolish as brother dearest. Where is Suicune now, anyway?"
Uxie grimaced, and Raikou noticed. Something flickered in his gaze. "Well then, do tell," he said smoothly, halting his movement for a moment.
"Remember your fight back in the Grass Region?" Ellie snapped. "He died from his wounds there. Happy?"
Raikou looked almost troubled, but a mask of indifference once again covered his eyes a split second later.
Mesprit began to laugh. "Ah, Raikou, you fool."
"What is it?" Ellie asked.
Realization flashed across Azelf's face. "Mesprit, don't tell me…"
"You sad, pitiful little fool," Mesprit repeated.
"Let's go," Azelf said quickly. She turned to Uxie. "Come on!" she urged.
Uxie hesitated. "I… I can't," she said quietly.
"What are you talking about?" Ellie asked, horrified.
"If I leave now…"
Raikou grinned, his claws flexing and his shoulders tensing already. He knew something. The same thing that was holding Uxie back now.
Mesprit's smile faded, and her eyes narrowed. "If you die…"
All three sisters shared a look, then Mesprit shook her head almost in disbelief, floating away. "Dammit, Uxie." She flew into the Center, flashing a glance at Azelf and Ellie. "Hurry."
"We're just going to leave her?" Ellie asked incredulously, but followed along anyway.
"Just hurry before time runs out!" Mesprit snapped, more agitated than usual. Azelf flinched.
There was a sharp crack behind them, but before Ellie could turn around, Azelf flew forward. "This way."
Ellie frowned, thinking, but continued to run beside them.
Of course, battle was inevitable at this point.
Azelf flung a Shadow Ball out at a cluster of trees, and they exploded into a cloud of dust and power.
"Your skills of deception are higher than before," a voice mocked.
"Go," Azelf hissed to Ellie and Mesprit.
Rage boiled in Ellie's blood. "What? No! We were supposed to stay together! But Uxie—!"
"Is no longer any of your concern," Mesprit broke in. "We have to hurry." She shared a look with Azelf and they both nodded. Azelf then flew away, towards the voice in the dust, and Mesprit pulled away Ellie, towards the large building in the middle of the center.
Ellie struggled, breaking free. "Okay, what's wrong with you three?" she demanded. Her eyes blazed. "You're definitely keeping something from me, aren't you?"
Mesprit smirked. "Of course. But do you really think I would tell?"
"Why were you so eager to leave them behind though?"
"I had no choice. They wouldn't have it either way. It doesn't matter anyway."
"Why not?" Ellie clenched her teeth.
"If one of us dies, it'll soon be over for all of us."
XXX
What? What? Why? Ellie's thoughts ricocheted through Mesprit's mind. It wasn't helping with the many thoughts that already flew through her head. Knowledge was power, but power is also drawn from emotions. Those emotions formed thoughts, so Mesprit knew everything and everyone around her, around her sisters, companions, and her worst enemies.
Her mind-reading capabilities far exceeded all. She'd known that, and used it to her best advantage. She knew why Ellie suffered, why Manectric feared, and why Star lied. She knew how Latios died.
Mesprit thought back to the fight on the bridge. Raikou's mind had been guarded, but after pushing past his defenses, she'd figured out why he did everything he had.
Suicune is dead? No, no, it wasn't supposed to happen… I took it too far that time in the Grass Region… Entei, you fool... No, I am the fool. The fool who thought he could protect his younger brothers from insanity.
No! Entei is at fault! He is the one who decided to take in the darkness that the trio under the pipes had… If he hadn't driven me…
I…
It isn't my fault… No… It can't be. It can't be.
He did an excellent job of hiding his emotions physically, but it wasn't good enough. He truly loved his brothers, but kept up a steady act to hide his constant care for the traitor. That act had become so normal for him, he'd begun to live two lives at once. One life caring so much for Suicune and Entei, and the other mercilessly striking down any who dared to oppose the Authorities. One final act had struck Suicune where he had not intended and now… Well, now he was two Pokémon in one, wasn't he?
Mesprit knew everything.
Almost.
Her eyes narrowed as she thought about Uxie and Azelf. The only things in the entire world that mattered to her.
Turmoil shifted through her mind, rolling lazily like a dark haze. Taunting her, torturing her. If one of them died, the other two would soon follow. They were linked. It was that simple. But before Mesprit would be able to even cope with the thought of her dying, she'd die first from the wound of loss.
She was a skilled actress, a flawless liar. She could cover all her emotions and bury them without the slightest of hesitation easily, hiding it all.
But she could never clear her thoughts of the thoughts of others. It frustrated yet pleased her, having so much power and leverage over others, even Leader. But it pained her.
It was easier to hear one that was close to her. So right now, Ellie's thoughts were the ones that ran rampart through her mind now.
After losing Star, Suicune, Xatu, Manectric, and the entire underground haven… now you three could all die on me at once?
Mesprit wanted to laugh. Losing everybody was one of the worst emotional traumas. Worse than death itself.
"You… you all could die…?" The silver Eevee before Mesprit gulped, her eyes not quite meeting Mesprit's.
The Psychic rogue sighed. "So predictable. Stop worrying about it, and just hurry."
She felt pain suddenly shoot through her arm and it twitched at her side. Her face revealed nothing. "Holding up?" She sent the telepathic message to Azelf and Uxie.
Immediately, Uxie replied, "I've done better, but I'm alive. Raikou isn't an easy opponent."
Azelf took a little longer to reply, but her mind's voice was strained. "It's… It's him… I don't think…" Mesprit's heart sank, her mind reaching out to figure out who she spoke of, knowing yet dreading the answer.
"Get away from there. You can't win against Time." She felt Azelf's consciousness agree warily.
"What are you doing?" Ellie asked, looking at Mesprit strangely.
Mesprit waved her off, knowing no one could currently sense their location thanks to her, and that it was driving Latias up above mad with fury. No one was near, so she could risk these next few minutes or seconds, depending on how fast the Authorities were.
A jolt of pain ripped through Mesprit's entire body and she nearly crumpled to the ground. Ellie let out a cry of alarm, but Mesprit shook her head, her eyes going hard.
"Azelf, can you hear me? It isn't worth it. Hurry over to where I am now. Uxie? You come too."
"I… I…"
With a start, Mesprit looked up, Ellie copying her actions immediately. How could someone find them? And so quickly… her thoughts raged on in her head as her eyes landed on who had spoken.
A battle-worn and barely conscious Pokémon hung in the air, suspended by a Psychic. Blood dripped at their feet and Mesprit's eyes widened.
"Azelf…?" she called, praying for her sister to answer.
Ellie's eyes flickered over to Mesprit, filled with horror.
Another Pokémon loomed over them all. "Mesprit," he greeted, sneering.
Azelf's struggled upon hearing him speak, but the Psychic move held her firm. She choked, blood appearing on the edge of her mouth, rolling down her face.
"Dialga," Mesprit responded, trembling in anger and fear. Her eyes went from Azelf to Dialga.
The Temporal Dragon sighed. "You should know better than to cross with Time."
Mesprit opened her mouth to speak, but another body cut through the air, flung over from some distance away. The limp form fell, landing right in front of Mesprit, who bit down a shriek as blood splattered against her and Ellie. The Eevee looked horrified, ready to faint, but she stood her ground. Mesprit felt a faint burst of pride that she could stand by a Pokémon like her, but that pride was soon swallowed by the fear and despair that raged on in her mind.
Uxie looked up, her eyes blank, her breaths shallow. "Sister? Is that you?" she whispered. Claw marks were scored all over her body, purposely missing her throat and heart, and going more deeply in the veins where blood ran most plentiful. The crimson sheet pooled out around Uxie,
Mesprit lowered herself to the ground, her heart pounding. How? We were just fine… Her own thoughts cut through those of others. Dialga. Of course… he controlled time. It was impossible from the start.
Raikou stepped forward, out of shadow. His eyes were dark now, and Mesprit reached out to his mind, recoiling back almost immediately. Kill. Blood. Murder. Kill. Kill. Die. His thoughts had changed so greatly from before.
"You sadist," she shot at Raikou, who didn't even flinch.
Dialga cut in. "How fitting really." He let Azelf go, and she dropped next to Uxie, broken. Unlike Uxie, her body was burned beyond repair, clawed over only by one single slash that most likely sealed the end of her life. The dragon continued, sneering, "The Emotion Pokémon, torn apart by the one thing she governs. How tragic."
XXX
Ellie watched as fear crossed Mesprit's face for a split second for the first time since she'd known the Psychic being.
"I'm sorry sister," Uxie said softly to Mesprit, who took one of Uxie's hands in her own, doing the same with Azelf.
"No, I am sorry," Mesprit said, sounding so much quieter than usual. Dialga and Raikou watched in amused silence. "I should have done better." She laughed, but it sounded hollow, showing shadows of the dry sarcasm she'd used so often before, her face shifting from pure distress to anger, to having no emotion at all.
Azelf linked hands with Uxie, so they formed a messy circle or triangle of sorts.
Mesprit scowled. "Uxie…"
"Sister, I can see it…"
"No, no you can't. Don't—" Mesprit suddenly was pleading.
"Arceus's Gate, Mesprit," Azelf broke in quietly. "Uxie always had the best Sight amongst us three. If she can see it, and I can see it…" She looked so sad, her eyes misty. Uxie smiled ruefully next to her.
Mesprit's hands tightened over her sisters', trying, willing them to live, but her face was solemn, already knowing.
Ellie turned away as Uxie's hand slipped from Mesprit's, falling with a dull thud on the earthen ground she lay on. She bit her lip, already knowing what was happening. But it was so sudden, so…
Uxie was dead… and according to Mesprit, both she and Azelf would soon follow.
"I should have told you," Mesprit said quietly, lowering herself between Uxie and Azelf and cradling Uxie's body to her. "I never stopped caring. Much like Raikou… I only did what I thought best. I never lost my way. I never truly enjoyed hurting others… but I had to keep my true emotions buried, see? I gave everything for the Authorities, my emotions, my thoughts, my life. All of it, for you two… And then, when Uxie revealed the truth of our land… I followed her out. I left all of my life. But do you realize how hard it was for me to suddenly have no more binds?"
Ellie turned to Raikou and felt a burst of satisfaction as he flinched. She looked over at the sisters once again.
Azelf looked shocked as Mesprit's eyes flashed, likely showing a memory. "You…" she began before coughing violently. "All this time, sister…?"
Mesprit twitched, but she continued, her face now clearly reflecting the sorrow written over Azelf's gaze. "Who do you think provided for you those first years of solitude? Shelter, food… a home."
Shock and pain danced over Azelf's face.
"I initially didn't agree in the hopes that you would defy your own words and follow me. I did it because I wanted to protect you. Why else did I agree to come with you when you told me you would fight against the Center?"
When there was no reply, Mesprit continued, "I gave my life to live a different identity which could protect you two for so long, helping the Authorities with so much so you could actually live, unlike me." She swallowed hard. "You know?"
Her mask was gone.
"You know?" she repeated, trembling as she shook Azelf's hand. "Hey…"
Azelf's eyes were blank, her mouth frozen in the shape of an "o". Her arm hung limply from Mesprit's grip.
Mesprit lowered her arm, letting Azelf's hand slide out of her grip. She hung her head in agony. "You fools," she said quietly. "You fools."
"You're on your own now." She raised her head to look scornfully at Ellie. "It's over for me." She turned back to Azelf, looking over to Uxie, and back again.
Struggling, Ellie found her voice. "Wait," she choked. She tried to move, but found her legs frozen in place.
Mesprit didn't show any signs of hearing her, and bent over, resting her forehead on Azelf's arm, closing her eyes. "Yeah…" she whispered to nobody in particular, sounding so much more sorrowful than Ellie had ever heard her. "Let's all go through Arceus's Gate together."
Ellie's throat constricted and she tried not to burst out sobbing. No…
Taking several steps back, before either Raikou or Dialga could make a move, she turned and bolted. There was a sudden cry of fury, and Dialga roared, light pulling back to where the dragon stood. Fearing that time would freeze her where she stood, she ran faster, only to realize that Dialga hadn't stopped time for her. A flash of blue sped away. Probably a random civilian that had somehow gotten mixed up in the fight…
I… I've lost everyone… Everyone… She shook her head, trying to assuage herself. "Get it together…" she muttered. She looked up, seeing orange streak across the sky. Night was coming soon.
"The Beings have fallen!" Dialga's victorious roar could be heard from where Ellie stood. She winced as his voice cut through the air, and willed herself to run faster. Thanks to Mesprit's constant dragging, Ellie was close enough to the main building that she could easily see it from where she stood. Looking back and forth, she dashed out in the open road, sliding back into shadow at the other side. She let out a slow breath, checking to make sure she hadn't been spotted.
Turning her attention back to the final obstacle that stood in the way of her happiness and freedom, Ellie began to crawl in the shadows of buildings cautiously, making her way to the central building.
"Hunt her down! The silver Eevee is the last one!" Dialga crowed, somewhere off in the distance.
Ellie scrambled to back away from where his voice originated, throwing glances over her shoulder occasionally. Her claws slid out involuntarily, scratching softly against the earth under her paws as she made her way closer to the main building.
Pain. Pain, and fear. Both emotions ran through her furiously as her subconscious tried desperately to claw its way through to her mind amid the chaos. I'm… I'm the only one left… Star's gone, and I wouldn't blame him if he's left for good… Everyone else… they're… they're…
Bile rose in her throat and she choked, trying to swallow, but coughed, stifling the sound using the fur on her neck. Shuffling back against the wall, she tried to hide in the shadows even more.
No… she couldn't have an attack now. More than anything else, if an attack happened now, she'd die for sure.
There was the sound of claws against concrete above her, and she jumped back, tensing and glaring at a figure on the roof of the building she'd just been near. Raikou stared down at her in silence, something shifting in his gaze. Ellie held his gaze for what seemed to be eternity, before he slowly stepped backwards, pulling his eyes away from her. As quietly as he had come, he disappeared over the rooftop.
"Have you found her yet?" an very familiar, feminine voice asked tightly. Ellie drew in a deep breath to keep from swearing in frustration. She couldn't move in fear of being heard, but stood out in the open, visible and vulnerable.
"No," Raikou replied simply.
"We're running out of time! And that fool—he just used one! He lied! Only one left, my ass! He had two!" Latias broke into swearing that gradually faded away into the distance.
Raikou remained silent, and his steps grew softer as he padded away to a different section of the Center.
Ellie exhaled slowly as silence once again consumed her. Raikou hadn't given her away. He was probably in his caring and brotherly nature right now, but once he snapped back to evil killer puppet, he'd be back before she'd know it and slaughter her. But what was with Latias's words?
She slid back into the shadow, this time darting all the way till she reached the final road that marked the entrance to the main building. The building itself was breathtaking. Black obsidian and glass, only three stories tall, but mystical, holding a certain power about it that simply willed order and obedience. She resisted the power, once again drawing in a deep breath.
There were two guarding Legendaries, one that was muscular and sneering, his thin coat light tan and gray. He had darker horns protruding from his head, and had an overall thick build. It'd be hard to get by him. The other Pokémon was blue-furred, with a taller body standing on four legs, light cream-colored horns, and a very lovely French mustache. Thick white fur covered his neck and part of his chest. Ellie frowned, the Legendarys' names easily coming to mind: Terrakion and Cobalion. So they aren't in the pipes... just Keldeo now, huh?
That would've made things so much easier.
The sky was darkening now, a dark hue of indigo stretching its arms over the land in a cold embrace. There was a slight chill, but nothing she couldn't handle. She found herself missing Star's warmth by her side, and shook her head, clearing her mind, or at least trying to. She raised her head to look at the true reason for her suffering, eyes locking on the guarded entrance to the structure.
"Everyone, please… help me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
She knew she'd stand no chance against Terrakion or Cobalion in a fight. She had to sneak by them. But how?
A distraction. The answer was easy. It was the actual action that was the tricky part, especially since now, she was alone. A bomb. An alternate attack. I don't know, but something—
Her thoughts were cut short as an explosion suddenly tore through a different section of the Center. A bone-chilling cackle struck the air, making Ellie freeze in horror.
Rayquaza.
What was he doing here? There was no way he was helping Ellie, so he probably had some ulterior motive for attacking so suddenly. But how had he known or chosen to come now of all times? It was so perfect, it was terrifying.
She crouched and watched as Terrakion and Cobalion looked at each other and argued roughly.
"Ha! It's my turn for a battle! That green gecko stands no chance against me!"
"You forget, Terrakion. You're fat and slow."
"And you're thin as a twig. You'd snap easily!"
"Even so, you'd never take down his army."
"He wasn't joking about it?"
"Well he's got an army out there. Probably brainwashed fools."
"Tch… Fine then, go and get yourself killed. See if I care."
"Ha."
Then Cobalion smirked, shoving his brother hard in the shoulder, then took his leave, bounding towards where the destruction lay. Ellie looked back and forth—clear. If she could get past Terrakion, she'd be able to sneak into the ventilation. She'd seen the layout of the building before and had since memorized the winding passageways. She easily fit within the vents… it was just a matter of how perceptive the Authorities were or how fast she'd be found.
What actually surprised her was how Dialga hadn't randomly appeared in front of her already. He controlled time, so why wasn't he using his powers now?
"Hurry and finish the job already," Terrakion growled, making Ellie snap out of her thoughts and flinch, thinking he'd seen her. She glanced over at him, but he only mumbled more. "I don't want to waste my time here."
She let out a sigh of relief, but remained where she was. She wracked her memory for a moment, remembering the carefully drawn diagram of the main authority building a previous Pokémon who'd resided in the Underground Haven brought back once. A pretty Glameow who'd gone by the name Sasha, and one of the most skilled in both battle skill and stealth that they'd had.
She died only moments after giving them the information they'd sought.
Ellie frowned, clearing her thoughts. She had to sneak through the vents, and make her way to the top floor. Easy.
Of course, there'd be guards, likely already alerted of her movements and where she could be. She'd have to be fast.
Ellie looked at her paws for a moment in silence. She hadn't been injured in the fight between Manectric and Rayquaza before, and her worst injury was probably her side, where she'd been hit with Latias's Mist Ball. Other than that one wound, she should be able to make it past Terrakion. In what condition afterwards, she didn't know.
Another explosion tore through the one section of the Center Rayquaza was terrorizing, sending dust blowing over Ellie and the area around her. She blinked, startled, but then broke into a run, dashing for the entrance that Terrakion guarded. She wouldn't get another perfect opportunity like this again.
Just as she got within several feet of Terrakion, he stiffened, peering through the already-clearing dust. "WHO'S THERE?" he boomed in an obnoxiously loud voice. Luckily for Ellie, the sky was already darkening more, and limited the Authority's sight, otherwise she would've already been caught.
Ellie narrowed her eyes, then forced her tail to harden to steel. When she was a foot away from Terrakion, he saw her, but by then, she made a quick right, spinning on her heel and hitting him with a direct Iron Tail on the left side of his face. He barely moved, but his shock gave Ellie the moment she needed to slip past him and dash into the building. Already knowing he was going to follow her, she looked back and forth before dashing around a corner to hide and calm her nerves.
"THE EEVEE IS INSIDE THE MAIN BUILDING!" Terrakion screamed, tearing into the building after her. The doors, already weak from when she burst through them, fell like dominoes under Terrakion's weight. Ellie's heart pounded, but she forced herself not to panic. Why are they so against stopping our world's destruction? she thought in agony. Her eyes darted to an air vent just across from her. The only problem was that she'd have to run past an open area, and would most likely be spotted.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Terrakion demanded, eyes glowing in fury and his face bruised from Ellie's earlier strike. His horns glowed, but another Pokémon with long brown fur bounded down the stairs.
"You let her in?" Entei asked incredulously.
Terrakion growled, practically blowing off steam. "SHE HIT. MY FACE."
"SHE HIT MINE TOO," another familiar voice screamed from the upper floor. Ellie scowled. Cresselia.
Just how many were in this building, waiting for her?
Entei only snorted. "You two are idiots! All you have to do is cover your face with a mask, and she can't hurt you!" Saying that, he burst into laughter. Ellie sweatdropped.
Roaring laughter then tore through the air. "I SHALL SLAUGHTER YOU ALL! DIE! DIE! DIE!"
Ellie shook her head in disbelief. Rayquaza was—
There were screams as Rayquaza kept chanting his mantra of "DIE!" over and over. Dull thuds followed, and when Ellie peered around the corner for a glance, she couldn't see why the two Authorities in the main lobby were so silent and horror-stricken all of a sudden. Other than the fact that the entrance was busted apart from when Terrakion tore through, it seemed normal.
Then there was a series of flashes around a dragon's jaw pointed upwards, lighting the darkening sky with white streaks in the air, and Ellie could see the bloodstains on the inner floors as well as the destroyed entrance itself. Rayquaza struck down at a motionless figure on the ground outside, snarling and screaming, his eyes flashing with insatiable hunger and desire. His claws tore into the body, mauling it beyond repair.
Still not satisfied, he spun and slammed his tail into the body, sending it flying into the room where the two legendaries and Ellie were, then flying up to circle the building. He continued to scream and fire energy beams in disarray while in the air.
Realizing the two Legendaries hadn't spotted her yet, Ellie looked around wildly, then made a wild dash for the vent. Reaching it, she slammed into it with a Take Down, ignoring the recoil that stung her briefly. At the sound, Entei whirled around, but Terrakion remained unmoving.
"What the—?" Entei's eyes widened as Ellie hurled a Shadow Ball in his face, then crawled into the vent quickly, digging in her claws to climb upward the shaft.
The Volcano Pokémon growled, drawing a paw over his face repeatedly. "WHY DOES SHE KEEP HITTING—?!" Entei was cut off by a furious scream from Terrakion.
"THAT DOESN'T MATTER!" Terrakion's voice was thick with rage. "HE KILLED MY BROTHER! HE KILLED COBALION!" So he did care.
"Stop shaking me, you fool!" Entei snapped. Then louder, to all the Authorities, "SHE'S IN THE VENTILATION—!"
"RAYQUAZA KILLED MY BROTHER! THAT FUCKING GECKO PIECE OF SHIT!" There was the sound of tearing flesh, and still silence. Ellie forced herself to continue crawling until she reached the point where she could simply just walk or run inside freely.
"You fucking idiot, what are you doing?! I'm on your—!"
Terrakion cut him off, attacking the Fire type in frenzied anger. "I'm on no one's side but my own! MY OWN, HEAR ME YOU SELFISH ASSHOLE?!"
"YOU'RE THE FUCKING ASSHOLE! ATTACKING YOUR OWN ALLY—!"
Another voice joined the fray, attempting to stop the fight, but it was already over. Entei didn't make another sound. Screams of fury erupted from the third Pokémon, prompting Ellie to decide that he was Raikou. She didn't blame him. After all, he'd now lost both of his brothers.
Shutting the sounds out of her ears, Ellie ran, thankful that the vents were wide enough that she could move almost freely. She turned a left, seeing light filter in through a vent. Peering down, she could vaguely make out two Pokémon fighting, one of which was yellow with black stripes and purple mane, confirming that the one who'd tried to stop them from the inevitable murder was indeed Raikou.
"Break it up! What's gotten into you two… oh… oh my Arceus…" Latias had flown in, stopping abruptly as she saw Entei lying blank-faced on the ground, blood flowing from a wound Ellie couldn't see from where she was, and Cobalion, so bloody and torn apart it was hard to tell what he even looked like before his death anymore.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
Ellie stopped watching, feeling sick, and stepped over the vent, continuing towards her goal. Finding a vent that went straight up, she started to climb. I seem to be having a lot of luck right now, seeing as I'm still alive, huh? she thought bitterly. Reaching the second level, Ellie turned right, knowing a vent that went straight up to the top floor would be there. Now all she—
The space right where she was about to step exploded, the thin metal fragments of the shaft flying out in all directions, some hitting the sides of the shaft and leaving dents before bouncing back off and flying in another direction to leave more dents.
"I know you're there, you murderer!" Latias screamed.
Ellie shuddered, eyes locking on the giant hole busted in front of her. One more step and she would've been hit directly. Crouching so she could get a better view of the level below her, she made out Latias in a ready stance, two others flanking her on either side: Terrakion, and Raikou. Raikou looked mutinous, shooting glares at Entei's murderer. He flexed his claws on the polished tile floor, his eyes shooting back and forth between the vent where Ellie waited, and Terrakion. Terrakion himself was covered in blood, contrasting to Raikou's still-perfect, clean coat (how Raikou managed that while fighting, Ellie had no idea). The Fighting type's eyes were blazing, but it seemed he couldn't bring himself to strike the already distressed Latias… he had ceased his fighting for now.
Another blast hit the shaft behind her, trapping her in between the two holes. If she tried to go either way, she'd be seen easily. Her mind went back to the map for a moment. She was close to a set of stairs now. If she could get there, she could simply climb those and hope to avoid a confrontation.
"COME OUT OF THERE NOW!" Latias snarled.
"Calm yourself," Raikou muttered.
"She and her stupid little friends murdered my BROTHER. Right now I have her trapped. And you're telling me to CALM MYSELF?" Latias spat.
Ellie drew in a breath, then leapt down from the hole behind her. She managed to land without hurting herself that much due to practice, but already, she knew that the wound on her side had reopened. Wincing, she refused to look and instead focused on the stairs up ahead. She was right—the stairs were right there, just down the hall. Reaching them, she bounded up.
Victory was within reach.
XXX
Latias had been staring, dumbfounded, but immediately began to give chase. "Get back here!" Terrakion only sniffed, suddenly disinterested, but Raikou snarled, his eyes glimmering with hatred and sorrow.
"That's it," was all he said, turning away from them. "I'm done here."
At those words, Latias froze. "What?" she demanded, turning to face Raikou. Was he a fool? What was he thinking? Besides, with Rayquaza on the loose and tearing apart their home, he would die almost immediately.
"You should understand, Latias. The Center has taken away everything." He laughed almost bitterly. "Mesprit knew. I knew. Terrakion, even you should realize the extent of my words."
The Cavern Pokémon only grinned. "Not Virizion, the bitch. Cobalion and I, we slaughtered her."
"Suicune loved her."
Terrakion laughed. "She broke his heart. That was her one shining moment. After that though, she lost her touch. She became softhearted."
Latias remained silent until another thought crossed her mind. "But… all of them… the Center didn't do it… They didn't kill Latios, they didn't kill Cobalion…"
"Maybe not…" Raikou said softly. "But it was because of them that their deaths have come to pass."
He left.
A/N- I feel like you all probably want to strangle me for killing so many. It's supposed to be similar to the Games, remember? So death is a prevailing occurance, hear?
Manectric, Suicune, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Xatu, and so many others dead, with Star missing. Who else will die this blood-filled night?
Of course, your opinions don't matter. Everything is already planned, the stage is set, and the end is nigh.
It's all closing in.