Authors' Note: If there are any questions, please leave a review and we will do our best and try to answer it!
Disclaimer: We don't actually own Pokemon.
Chapter Five: Battle of Nuvema Town: Part 2
"Cheers!" Jason yelled, dumping a barrel of apple cider on Ralph's head, "We beat the pants off of those idiots!" He danced around on a table in the Town Hall, where a huge party was going on.
Ralph grinned back at his brother, feeling a bit exhilarated himself. They, a group of scraggly Pokemon with no battle experience, had defeated the great and powerful Shadow Force!
In your face, Darkrai! he thought jubilantly.
He stumbled away from the party, feeling a need to separate himself from the stuffy environment inside the Town Hall. He walked to the city park, where he caught sight of Mark and Marcus hanging around the fountain, chatting.
"Hey, guys!" Ralph walked over to them. "Out for fresh air?"
"Yeah," Mark agreed absently. Marcus's fur fluffed up in momentary shock.
"There it is again," the Leafeon said tensely.
"What?" Ralph stretched his ears and spread his aura-sensing ability wide. He sensed a tiny flicker of an aura. It was silvery, a little bit hard to detect...
"Who's there?" He launched an Aura Sphere at the Pokemon, but it'd already vanished.
An Invisible Pokemon? he thought.
"It's him, alright," Marcus grumbled, shuffling his paws.
"Who?" Ralph asked.
"Oh..." Marcus seemed to realize his presence. "I mean... I didn't..." He looked frantically at Mark for support.
"What?" Ralph demanded.
Mark leaned in. "We have to tell him," the Blaziken whispered, "He won't trust us otherwise."
Marcus took a deep breath, not meeting Ralph's eyes. "There's a Pokemon who's been spying on us since the beginning," he said carefully.
"What... since the beginning!?" Ralph yelped in disbelief, "And you didn't tell me!?"
"Ralph... there are some forces that you don't want to mess with." Marcus said quietly.
"Well... then who's the Pokémon? Do you know him?" Ralph inquired, his pelt fluffing up.
"Yes… sort of." The Leafeon squirmed. "But I―I can't tell you. I'm sorry, Ralph."
Ralph felt anger surge through him. "Oh, I see how it is," he said menacingly. He felt perhaps he had... misjudged Marcus and Mark. "You won't tell me? Be that way." He turned on his paws and walked away.
"Wait, Ralph!" Mark chirped, a few feathers floating down. "The spy―he's not evil! He doesn't work for the Shadow Force!"
"How do you know that!?" Ralph challenged, turning back to face them with a snarl. "Then why exactly IS he spying on us!? And if you know him, then..." He hesitated, dread creeping up his spine as he continued, "... then doesn't that make you spies as well?"
Without a word, Ralph spun around and raced off back into the Town Hall. Pushing through the doors, he charged through the Pokémon in front of him, ignoring the citizens' surprised murmurs.
Where are they... there!
Ralph grabbed Charlez and Lumiére and dragged them through the crowd, into the mayor's office. It was empty, since Mayor Mack had gone out to party. "Listen to me," he said, panting slightly. "There's something fishy going on." He told them about the spy and the odd feeling of betrayal.
"A... spy?" Charlez asked, blinking in shock, "But then again... this is a battle... there were bound to be spies..."
"That's not my point! What if Marcus and Mark..." Ralph didn't have to finish.
Lumiére studied Ralph with a troubled expression. "I suppose we should've gotten to know our new recruits before we let them join," Ralph admitted at last, "At least Amethyst, Charnette, Xeno, and Rachiel were straightforward about it... but Marcus and Mark..." He trailed off silently. The room went quiet for a few moments as the three took it all in.
"We need to trust them." Charlez spoke up suddenly, "It doesn't matter. We've been through so much already. We need to believe, or all is lost. We can't have a civil war going on amongst ourselves during an important revolution like this."
"That, I agree with." Lumiére flickered, his ghostly light filling the room like a spark of hope. "We need to trust them."
Ralph seethed with anger. "But―"
"Enough is enough, Ralph." Charlez said gently, placing a claw on his shoulder and smiling softly, Ralph slumped down, thoroughly depressed. "That's enough for one day. As long as they're not working for the Shadow Force, let them be. We need to have faith in them."
"Fine." Ralph said, but inside, he knew he was never going to look at Marcus and Mark in the same way again.
Somewhere in the shadows…
A dark Pokemon, the spy, was talking to his superior through a small communication device―a pendant with a neon blue crescent crudely carved into it.
"Ahh... yes... hi! How are you doing?" he asked cheerfully, "How're the others? How's the plan going?"
"That is none of your concern currently." A slightly feminine voice drifted through the device. "What is the situation over there?"
"Oh, I found Xiawa again." The Pokemon's lips curled up in disgust. "He slipped away at the last second, but I forced anti-memory pill down his throat before he got away. He won't remember what hit him." He was smiling slightly. He enjoyed the surprised look on Xiawa's face as he choked down the tablet and the horror on the Sharp Claw Pokemon's face when he sprang at him from behind.
"Good." The voice replied, "And the Shadow Force?"
"Them? Yeah, they sent an army this way already. Their revolution is doomed to fail at this point. They're too busy celebrating, such amateurs." Those pathetic 'revolutionists' didn't understand the true nature of battle, of war, of the pain, of the things lost forever. They were too optimistic. The positive were always doomed to fail. He felt a growl rise in his throat. How he hated those cheerful idiots.
"That's too bad. I hoped that those revolutionists would at least have common sense... but no, I suppose I was wishing for too much..." The voice trailed off.
"Oh, and one more thing," the spy piped in to the communication device, "The deserters are here. They sensed me. They know I'm here."
"WHAT?!"
Back in the Town Hall...
"Party!" Jason was now dancing on the top of a chocolate fondue, throwing poffins and waffles everywhere. "Hey, Ralph! Join in!"
Ralph managed to summon a smile and walked slowly over to his brother. "Sure!"
RUMBLE...
The Town Hall started shaking with mad cracking noises. All of the citizens and Revolutionists screamed and scattered in panic.
"Earthquake?" Xeno yelled, her black eyes frantically scanning the area.
"Not an earthquake! It's an engine!" Ron screamed, "Above us! Everybody RUN!"
Just then, the world seemed to explode around Ralph as pieces of the ceiling rained down around him and the ground flew up towards the sky. Pieces of flaming carcasses floated past him in slow motion as the Town Hall exploded.
Then Ralph noticed what he should've noticed earlier; a huge army marching towards them in the darkness, and the aircraft soaring across the night sky, leaving dark plumes of smoke. "The Shadow Force!"
"Hold your ground!" Mayor Mack shouted, "It doesn't matter that they have the advantage of numbers! We can still do this!"
With a battle-cry, the citizens surged forward to meet the marching army. Explosions rocked the ground as the aircraft whizzed through the sky. the peaceful chatter of before was long-forgotten as the screams and bangs of battle began.
"Counter the aircraft!" Ralph yelled, blasting one out of the air with an Aura Sphere.
Immediately, several Flying-type and Bug-type Pokémon soared into the sky and starting blasting away at the black planes. But they weren't enough. Ralph watched in horror as Charlez was hit and sent spiraling through the sky.
"No!" Anger gave Ralph strength, and he charged into battle.
Mali was not happy to see that his former comrades had survived. He thought that they had died! And yet―there they were, still standing, with malicious fires burning in their eyes, staring at him―Charnette and Amethyst.
"What are you two doing here, alive?" he snarled, "And why are you on their side?"
"Eh―we aren't gonna hang out with ye anymore." Amethyst smirked, "Yer incredibly stupid... so we're hanging with these lads now!"
"That's right." Charnette let out a maniacal laugh. "It's good to smell your flesh again, my dear Mali."
Mali bared his fangs. Charnette and Amethyst had been his former cronies back at the Shadow Force Outpost where they were trained. And they seriously thought that they could beat him?
Pah! Yeah right! Mali thought, and charged at them. But Amethyst and Charnette had disappeared.
"Over here, lovely," Charnette purred. Mali twisted around only to have his spine crack under pressure. He staggered, unable to regain his bearings, just as Amethyst barked and lunged her flaming stick into the small of his back, searing his fur and skin. He fell to the ground and looked around desperately. A discreet smirk crossed his face. He leapt from the ground with insane speed and grabbed a blue Pokémon in one paw.
"AHHH! LEMME GO, YOU MUFFIN!" Jason raged, clawing at the Zoroark's paws.
"One more step and his neck snaps," Mali threatened. The two Pokémon stopped, hesitating. He had a paw on the top of Jason's head and one under his muzzle, able to execute the pup in an instant.
"You two are pathetically weak," Mali sneered, his ears flicking as the battle raged around them, "You can't even sacrifice this little guy?" He shook Jason. The Riolu yelped and barked in a fit of mad survival instinct. He tried using Aura Sphere, but Mali knocked him out with one Mach Punch to the gut.
"You two got stronger. I'll give you that," Mali laughed, "But you've also gotten softer!" he gloated, "You don't know true power! True power comes with the sacrifices of hundreds, even millions, of Pokemon! You should have learnt that from your so-called 'mama' Yveltal, hmm? What does a tiny Riolu matter to you?" he went on, "It's like kindergarten again, you two! The two Pokémon in the corner of the classroom, afraid to talk, afraid to move. Hah! If it weren't for my excellent training skills, where'd you be now? And you say your former guardians were legendary Pokemon? Hah, that's a lie if I've ever heard one!"
"Aye, and, I learned from me mum, Yve, that your life won't matter either, yeah?" Amethyst muttered, her flame glowing purple from the fusion with Charnette.
"Come back to us," Mali said, his voice suddenly softening, "We have money, power, anything you want. Who do you choose―the ones who were always meant the fail―the Revolutionists, or us, the great and powerful ones, The Shadow Force?"
Amethyst hesitated, her mouth open slightly. She looked hurt, seeing Mali let down his guard for her, like before.
"Don't listen to them!" Jason, who had been playing dead, suddenly jumped up and head-butted Mali in the jaw. The Zoroark howled in sudden anguish. "Eat this!" the Riolu screamed as he stuffed muffins, poffins, and waffles into the dark Pokemon's mouth.
"Fool!" Mali raged. He pulled out a shimmering green vial and smashed it against the Riolu.
Jason let out a whimper and sank to the ground, the poison coursing through his veins.
"Jason!" Amethyst yelled, turning to face Mali, her eyes blazing with pain, "That's it, mista! We ain't gonna play nice now!
"Hah!" Mali snorted, "As if you know how to―"
WHAM!
Mali went down as Charnette cast a blundering idiot spell on him. He stumbled, trying to counterattack, as Amethyst and Charnette took turns beating him up.
No! I can't die like this! he thought desperately, looking around as the fox Pokémon brained him with a fire stick. His vision was jarred for a second, and then he saw it.
There!
He darted across the battlefield and hopped into an armored vehicle, pushing Victor out with a disastrous Night Daze. He heard Amethyst and Charnette's laughs as they chased him. He revved the engine and drove straight into battle. Literally, as many Pokémon fell under the wheels of the huge crushing death machine―Mali's favorite "weapon".
But Charnette and Amethyst weren't the least bit phased by his maniacal driving, as he went completely out of his way to smash, crush, and grind poor Pokémon into the ground. Amethyst grabbed a fire stick and slammed it into a wheel. The wheel popped with a gigantic BANG!, sending rubber and smoke flying everywhere. The van groaned as Charnette swiped her paw against the other wheels. The van exploded, and Mali barely made it out.
He tried one last strategy. "Mina! Ero!" he roared.
Immediately, a Gothitelle and Malamar appeared, eyes gleaming with anger. The Gothitelle named Mina snarled when she saw the Liepard and Braixen. "You fools! What are you doing, helping the other side?"
"This is the side we choose to be on." Charnette returned with a low growl, "The side with the most fun―and friends. The best kind of bad there is on the planet."
"Please. You weaklings?" Ero laughed and sneered at them, "Can you do anything? Please. You're pathetic, and weak―and not even our competition!" He lunged at Charnette.
With a swipe faster than light, Charnette pinned him down with a Shadow Claw and raked her claws across his face. Eros screeched with pain.
"Eros!" Mina charged with a massive Psybeam, but Amethyst countered with a Blast Burn that threw Mina back fifty feet.
"Ya see, Mina," Amethyst continued, "When we joined the Revolutionists, it was at first for fun, ya know? Killin', battlin', such and such. But now we understand why we were led to them." Her eyes gleamed.
Charnette nodded. "We decided to live by choice, not chance. To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated, to be useful, not used."
"We chose to excel, not compete." Amethyst went on, "We chose to join the Revolutionists because here, and only here, we can listen to our inner voices, the voices of our former guardians, not your voices, not Mali's voices, or even Darkrai's voice!"
"We are against you because―this is the real us." Charnette hissed, "We are who we are, and you cannot force or make us do what you want. We choose us, and our inner voices. We choose the Revolutionists!"
Then the Braixen and Liepard held paws. The wind rippled around them as a swirling storm whipped up around them.
"No!" Mali backed up and started running. He had seen this before. And it hadn't been pretty. Mina tried to teleport, but Charnette had already cursed her. Around the two Revolutionists, a massive storm was about to be born. Charnette casted protective spells on the Revolutionists just as the hurricane of Fire and Dark power was unleashed.
It descended onto the battlefield with a deafening BOOM! SFP went flying. But they weren't the two's target. Amethyst and Charnette stood in the eye of the storm, carefully, purposely, directly the tornado straight at three very specific Pokemon.
"NOOOOOO!" Mali screamed as he was sucked into the tornado, along with Ero and Mina. The trio which had bullied Charnette and Amethyst back when they were trainees were simply absorbed into the growing storm and lost, forever.
Ralph fought side-to-side with Lumiére and Charlez, desperately trying to keep the Shadow Forces away from the Chapel. He smacked a Drapion with Bone Rush and blew another away with an Aura Sphere. Ron had a special weapon he had invented―something he called a gun. Ralph steered clear of the weapon and headed deeper into the battle.
Then he saw the sight. A tiny blue spot before him, surrounded by the flaming carnage caused by the battle. His eyes were closed, and poison was seeping through his body.
"Jason!" Ralph rushed toward his brother. Then he saw two other Pokemon standing over his brother.
Mark and Marcus.
"You!" Ralph screamed, "Why?"
Marcus looked up, startled. Was there a look of guilt across his face? Was there? Or was it just the rage making Ralph's head dizzy? "Ralph, it wasn't..."
"Why?!" Ralph screeched as he attempted to use Bone Rush on the Leafeon. Marcus dodged and landed several feet away.
"Ralph, it wasn't―!"
"Ralph! Calm down!" Someone grabbed Ralph, and he turned to see Charlez and Lumiére.
"Calm down!" Charlez repeated as Ralph struggled against her.
"Ralph!" He turned to see Charnette and Ame running up.
"Hurry!" Charnette urged, "Another general―a Swalot, is heading this way with his army!"
Ralph didn't believe a single word of it. But there was no use. There was a battle to be fought and won. "Lumiére, get Jason to the Chapel!" Then, with a distrustful glance at Marcus, he turned and jumped back into the battle.
Marcus stared at the ocean water as he walked through the beach with Mark. Bodies of hurt Pokemon were everywhere. He picked up a gas mask.
"It's impossible." he muttered quietly, "Death is inevitable..."
"Don't say that." Mark said firmly, "We have a battle to fight! Let's go back!"
Marcus stared at his reflection in the clear water. "I wish... I could just go back in time and fix all the mistakes I've made." he said, clearly not having heard Mark, "I-I... I hate myself." he murmured miserably.
"Don't say that." Mark repeated, "Look. don't waste your time regretting all your wrongs. Know that in the end, you'll get what your heart longs. Try not to risk it all, but don't be afraid to stumble, to fall. Hold your head high, and don't be afraid to say goodbye. Stay true to yourself and do everything there is to do. Live life to the fullest and never look back―there is a reason for the future and a reason for the past. Love 'til it hurts, laugh 'til you cry, and when your life flashes before you before you die, be happy for what you've done, be happy for what you've overcome, and most of all, be proud of what you had become. Everything you have endured has made you you for a reason, and don't you ever forget that."
Marcus stared as his reflection. That was it. Maybe he couldn't change the past. Maybe he couldn't see the future. But... did that really matter? Every Pokemon only had one life... and... well, life has a purpose, right? If one didn't have a purpose for life, then they might as well be dead.
No. Marcus thought, I'm not dead... I'm still alive! And I'm going to do what I can, and what I must do, before my time is up.
Strengthened by his best friend's words, he turned and raced back towards the battle site with Mark at his heels.
Ralph couldn't break through Shadow and Yubabah's perfect combo moves.
The Gengar and Honchkrow were a perfect team, with no blind eye or whatsoever. They attacked together, defended together, and created combo moves that knocked down most of the Revolutionists.
We didn't follow you for nuthin'. Ame had told him before running off with Charnette to help defend the Chapel.
It's hopeless. Ralph thought. They were fighting a losing battle. Mayor Mack was in a sea of enemies as he tried to protect the wounded Pokemon. Xeno and Rachiel were cornered in Pansear's Grill. Ron was waving his gun and shooting out random high-velocity berries. Even Trent was having a hard time smashing the SFP dolts.
Yubabah let out a triumphant shriek. She excelled in sensing hopelessness and fear. She dove insanely fast and knocked Ralph to the ground just as Shadow blasted a Dark Pulse. Ralph screamed in pain as he crashed into the ground.
And this time, he couldn't get up.
Yubabah crowed with laughter as she saw her prey, helpless and spread before her.
This is too easy! She thought excitedly. She didn't understand why General Doomsday had called him a dangerous enemy. This is dangerous? Pah! Her beak glowed and grew sharper as she prepared a Drill Peck. She lunged and aimed straight for the Lucario's heart...
"No!" Suddenly, there was a flash of cream and green as another Pokemon knocked her out of the sky.
Ralph stared with disbelief as Marcus tackled the shiny Honchkrow out of the air with a deadly swipe.
"This isn't your fight, you pathetic idiot!" Shadow growled as he sent Marcus flying with a Shadow Punch.
"Marcus, no!" Mark yelled, and rushed towards his friend, but three Skuntanks engaged him in battle and the Blaziken went down under a mass of stench and fur.
"What an adorable plaything." Yubabah cooed with a half-crazed shriek, "There's nobody to help you now!" She lunged and Metal Winged Marcus into the ground. The Leafeon wailed in rage, badly hurt. Disoriented, he lashed out at the with Vine Whip. He managed to graze Yubabah, and send Shadow spinning away.
"Fool!" Shadow growled, "You call that a move? Well, I'll show you a move!" He created a Shadow Ball with max power and launched it at Marcus.
Marcus screeched with pain and sent Shadow flying with an Energy Ball. He then turned, pivoting expertly on his toes, and plowed into Yubabah with a Quick Attack. He leaped high into the air, dodging Yubabah's counterattack, and Razor Leafed Shadow into the ground just as he attempted to get up. The Gengar crumpled to the ground.
Yubabah screeched in rage and attack Marcus with a super-effective move―Brave Bird. Marcus was sent flying. Shadow got up.
"You've played a good game. That, I'll give you credit." Shadow snarled, "But it ends now!" He held up a stone―a Gengarite, and started transforming.
The white Gengar's arms grew longer, his face meaner, and his size bigger.
"This is Mega-me!" he roared, and lunged at Marcus. Together, he and Yubabah performed Dark Sky―a combo move combining Dark Pulse and Sky Attack.
Marcus was sent flying yet again like a limp rag doll. He tried to get up, but Yubabah lunged at him with an Aerial Ace and he sank down onto the ground, unmoving. Shadow laughed and charged at him, his eyes glowing.
"Not so fast!" Shadow look up just in time for Ralph to smash him into the ground.
The Lucario had recovered, thanks to Marcus covering for him. He sent Yubabah spiraling into the sky with a Bone Rush and started using his weapon to pound Shadow's face into the ground.
"How dare―"
THWACK!
"I am the Pokemon of terror! The white Knight! The―"
THWACK!
"I will prevail―"
THWACK!
"Listen up, everyone!" Lucario yelled. The battered Revolutionists all looked up. "They can be beaten! They're Pokemon, just like us! They may be greater in numbers, but we are greater in spirit!"
With a cheer, the Revolutionists charged into battle with renewed zeal.
Far away, Ron, along with Trent, Xeno, Rachiel, and Morfient, were trying to protect the Dreamyard. Yes, the Dreamyard had originally been in Striaton City―one of the most popular attractions there. But thanks to it being an attraction, the Munnas and Musharna weren't able to have any privacy, and after a tiny protest group where the pink bubbly creatures threatened to blow up Striaton City and doom all living creatures to nightmares, the Straiton City mayors had reluctantly agreed and magically moved the magic yard to a more secluded place―Nuvema Town.
"Remind me why..." Ron panted as he blew a Sableye into the ruins of a shop with a Tomato Berry bullet, "we have to protect the Dreamyard of all places?"
"We must protect the innocents!" Xeno tackled a Munna out of the way as a Drapion fired a Pin Missile attack. The Houndoom parried the iron spikes with her tail.
The Munna squeaked in alarm and floated away.
"Can't they protect themselves?" Ron grumbled.
"MUNNAAA!" A Munna shrieked in horror and flew around in circles as a Banette lunged at it, making no attempt to counter-attack.
"Obviously not." Rachiel muttered.
"TRENT THE TANK!" Trent roared as he slammed down on the Drapion with the Pin Missile attack. "SMASH SMASH SMASH!"
Rachiel toasted an army of Dusclops. "Also, it's Friday. The Musharna's probably in there as well. We can't let it get hurt." She lashed her barbed tail and impaled a Murkrow, sending it hurtling through the sky like a comet. "Everyone! Shoot-and-scoot technique!" she commanded.
"Hey, how come she's in charge?" Morfient complained as he Body-Slammed a Mandibuzz. The pokemon screamed in pain as a ton of pure fat squashed it several feet into the ground.
"She's a good tactician, and if you commanded... well, let's just not think about that." Xeno replied as she applied a Mach Punch into a Bisharp's face and ducked away.
"Thanks a lot." Morfient grumbled, whacking a Cacturne upside the head.
The shoot-and-scoot strategy worked for about five minutes. Then the waves of pokemon surged up again as a new general rose above the foot soldiers―the great, powerful, unbeatable Swalot with many badges on his neat uniform and fiery eyes―General Blobby, the commanding blob of all of the blobs; Gulpins, Swalots, Muks, Grimers, et cetera.
"AHHH!" Ron screamed as he was sent sprawling. His precious gun was trampled into pieces as a Zweilous stormed over it. The Treecko fainted.
"Well, tactician?" Morfient whimpered as he backed up, "What do we―"
He was cut off as the Swalot general roared and sent a Sludge Bomb straight over their heads and into the Dreamyard.
"No!" Xeno shouted.
"MUNNAAAA!" Wails of pain exploded from the battered place, and one voice rose above the rest...
"MUSHAAARRR! Attack the intruders!" Outline in the moonlight, a Musharna rose up into the air, her red eyes gleaming with anger. "Fight back!"
With a screech of agreement, a thousand pink bubble-like Munnas hurled themselves at the mob of Shadow Force soldiers.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND!" General Blobby bellowed, "THE DREAM CREATURES ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO US―" The Musharna slammed into him with a tackle that could've moved a mountain. The general went down.
"You know..." Morfient said as they watched the Charge of the Pink Dream Bubble Pokemon in all its splendor, "Maybe we should've just let them destroy the Dreamyard earlier."
Rachiel rolled her eyes indignantly, touching her Houndoomite, and raced back into battle, switching over to her Mega form as she did.
"TRENT SMASH!" Trent roared. He gripped his Tyranitarite pendant and evolved into Mega Tyranitar as he smashed pokemon left and right. Mandibuzzes went flying. Gulpins went splat!
"You know..." Morfient grumbled and he and Xeno charged together, "It's totally not fair how we don't have mega evolutions."
"You complain too much." Xeno muttered as she rushed back into the fray.
After Marcus fell, Ralph was a tornado of destruction. He whomped Yubabah upside the head so many times that the Honchkrow saw stars and flopped to the ground. He bashed Shadow into the ground with so many Aura Spheres, that the air started to turn blue―and so did the Gengar.
"Stop!" Shadow wailed, "You're hurting me!"
Well, ain't that obvious? Ralph's eyes were clouded with red as he continued blasting away at the white Gengar.
"Shadow!" Yubabah staggered to her feet, flapping awkwardly. "I'll save―"
"Not so fast!" Yubabah was sent flying as Mark hurled a Skuntank into her side. He torched the dark pokemon. "Your time is up! This is what you get for hurting my friend!" He declared as he unleashed a dozen Fire Punches on the Honchkrow per second. Then he Blast Burned her into the ground.
"Shadow―TACTICAL RETREAT!" Yubabah screeched. Immediately, the two pokemons broke away from their opponents and fled into the shadows.
Ralph lunged after them, but Mark held him back. "That's enough. They've already been beaten."
Ralph paused and looked down at his paws. They were crisscrossed with scars and bruises. He had never felt a surge of adrenaline and strength like this before. But it was fading, fast. He suddenly felt dizzy. What have I done?
"PANTS ON FIRE!" An enemy Shiftry screamed as he flew over their heads and smashed into the ground as a flaming meteor.
"No!" General Blobby screamed, trying to escape from a group of Munnas that had decided to cling onto the Poison Bag pokemon and not let go. He was suffocating in their sweet-scented midst. "AGH―NO!" He looked around frantically. He had never thought that he could be beaten. But he was being beaten. His army had been trampled, set on fire, or hugged by Munnas. The aircraft were also malfunctioning due to those idiotic Munnas. Apparently, their idea of attack was to hug everything until it broke, suffocated, or imploded from the overdose of cuteness. There were no more troops for him to order around. Even Yubabah and Shadow―curse those cowards―were gone. There were only two choices―death or retreat. He took a deep breath. "RETREAT!" he ordered.
A cheer rose up from the Revolutionists as their enemies turned tail and fled back through the darkness. The aircraft whizzed away with a squeal, trailed by a few Munnas screaming for hugs.
A sort of silence fell over the citizens and Revolutionists alike as they surveyed their destroyed town. Some of them started crying. Most of it was burned into the ground. The only building that still stood tall and erect was the Chapel, and even that had been set on fire. Several Water-types and Ground-Types were attempting to put out the flames with Hydro Pump and Sand Attack and not destroy the Chapel at the same time.
"Citizens!" Mayor Mack climbed warily onto a broken aircraft. "We are victorious!" A hoarse, half-hearted cheer rose up from the citizens. But none of the excitement from before was in their voice. "Do not be disheartened by the state of our hometown. We will build a better one in its place! Sometimes, some things have to fall before they become better! We will also build a fort, and a moat around our fair town. It will be a hundred times better than our old one! It will be free, and completely isolated from Shadow Force rule!"
The citizens started cheering again, this time with all their heart. Mayor Mack had placed an image of a town uncontrolled by the Shadow Force and safe for the next generations, in their minds. It was something worth fighting for.
"But for now, we rest." Mayor Mack added quickly, "The Shadow Force will be back, but not now, and not for a couple of weeks. The wounded must be treated. Please head over to the Town Hall..." He glanced at the burned wreckage of the Town Hall. "Err, the Chapel, for your list of chores to do." He hopped off of the aircraft gingerly, no easy task to look dignified with half of your tuxedo burnt and your top hat shredded. "Work together and carry the wounded to the Chapel! And take the captured and wounded SFP to jail!"
"Right―Marcus!" Ralph looked around frantically. "Where is he?"
The Leafeon was still at the spot where he had fallen. As the Lucario raced over, Marcus looked up weakly and coughed before dropping his head to the ground again.
"Quick! We have to get him to the Chapel!" Mark threw Marcus over his shoulder and raced towards the Chapel with Ralph at his heels. Charnette and Amethyst were carrying Jason, while Charlez was on Rachiel's back.
Charlez... Jason... Marcus... The names swam in Ralph's head. Please don't die...
"They'll be fine." Lumiere said with a sigh as he leaned back from the three cots where Charlez, Marcus, and Jason were lying on, "Jason and Marcus will recover quickly, but Charlez..." He paused for a bit. "She's not exactly... young. Her wounds will take more time to heal."
Ralph glanced at the Bug-type pokemon that had kindly raised Jason and Ralph when their parents went MIA. His eyes swelled with tears. She can't die. Please, Arceus, Xerneas, whoever's out there; don't let her die...
"But now..." Lumiere said brightly, trying to lighten up the mood, "Why don't you guys introduce yourselves and get to know each other?"
"Um..." Ralph glanced around at Xeno, Rachiel, Morfient, Trent, Mark, Charna, Ron (who was still weeping over his broken gun), Victor, and Ame. All of them looked battle-weary and exhausted. "Is that okay?"
"Sure!" Ame said excitedly, "So... Charnette and me... we was from the Shadow Force, and then we were gonna get money in turn for killing you. But then we saw you and then we were like―why kill them?"
"Um... thanks?" Victor offered.
"Yeah, you're welcome!" Ame said as Charnette gave him her fame half-crazed smile.
"And Xeno and I are just wanderers... kind of like a protester's group of two." Rachiel explained, "We were dead on Ame and Charna's tails, but I suppose they've turned over a new leaf."
Charnette crackled with laugher, her aura turning pitch-black.
"Or not." Xeno grumbled.
"So..." Victor looked around. "I'm a weapons maker and I grew up with Ralphie and Jason here. I joined their protester's group, and now the Revolution."
"And I grew up with food, and am still growing up with food." Morfient introduced himself as he munched on an apple, "And I met Trent awhile ago. He was under-educated..."
"THE TANK!" Trent roared.
"I can tell." Rachiel muttered.
"... and I taught him some words and phrases..."
"Apple a day keeps SPF away! Bury the axe! Get last laugh! Good morning!" Trent offered, "TANK!"
"Yeah." Morfient finished, "And we've been like brothers ever since."
"And I'm just Ralph's old kindergarten buddy." Ron said, still half-mourning over his gun, "I'm a weapons inventor, and a 'disabled pokemon', since I somehow just can't evolve."
"And I'm an open book." Ralph admitted.
"That's true." Xeno noted, "You're pretty casual."
But it was pretty obvious that the others only wanted to know about Marcus. Charnette could sense it in their hearts.
"We-ll?" Charnette purred as she leaned close to Mark, snapping her gleaming fangs, "What are you wa-iting for?"
Mark sighed. "I guess we'd have to spill the beans sooner or later." he admitted reluctantly, "Marcus and I used to be in a different group―another group of revolutionists. They're... well, different. They don't like fighting in the open or making a very big commotion. That's why nobody's ever heard of them. But anyways, some things happened, and Marcus and I decided to leave the group. Of course, the Pokemon in that group didn't want us to leave, but Marcus insisted, and I went along with him. That was two years ago. Ever since, I think they have a hatred against us. I'm pretty sure that some of them wants to kill Marcus and me for being deserters."
"Wow." Victor said after a while, "That's extreme. What made you want to leave?"
Mark winced. "Something... well... Marcus had an... accident, I suppose you could say. And someone he cared about died during that tragedy."
"And how are they related to the spy?" Charna asked.
Mark frowned. "I thought only Ralph knew about that." He glanced at Ralph.
"I didn't tell them." Ralph promised.
"Oh, I didn't need him to tell me." Charnette purred, "I'm a sorceress, remember? I sensed that a Pokemon with very strong abilities and anti-spell defenses was following us." Her lips curled up in a grin that was half-respect and half-malicious. "Somehow, I just couldn't curse that idiot."
Ralph stared at the ceiling. A Pokemon who could turn invisible, and could also counter Charnette's spells? Just what mysterious forces are out there? he thought.
"And..." Mark glanced around nervously, "Sometimes, Marcus and I can sense him... that pokemon who's spying on us. But other times we can't... plus..."
"The group you used to be in was a group of assassins and spies and such." Charnette finished.
Mark stared. "How did you..."
"Your mind is so easy to read." Charnette bared her fangs in a smile.
"They didn't always kill." Mark defended, "Just occasionally. And they don't hurt innocent pokemon."
"And what's that groups name?" Ron asked curiously.
Mark shook his head adamantly. "I'm sorry, Ron, but I'd prefer not to say it." He looked around defensively. Nobody argued with him.
"It's okay." Ralph took a deep breath. "I just want to apologize for thinking that you guys might be with the Shadow Force and all."
"That's fine." Mark dismissed easily, "Just a small misunderstanding."
"And now, what's our next battle plan?" Xeno asked, "They'll be back, you know."
"But not that fast." Charna contradicted with a grin, "I sent a couple of nasty curses their way. It won't wear off 'till next week. They won't be attacking anytime soon."
"Good." Lumiere floated over. "I assume our next target is Accumula Town?"
Ralph blinked. "I haven't decided." he admitted.
"Mayor Mack has notified the mayor and the citizens in Accumula Town. They'll be assisting you in battle." Lumiere explained, "It's also the closest place from here."
"True." Rachiel said thoughtfully.
"Then we leave in... when will they heal?" Ralph asked.
"Jason and Marcus will heal by tomorrow. Their wounds aren't deep or devastating. Charlez, however, might take a few more days." Lumiere replied.
"Maybe we should just leave her behind." Rachiel suggested, "It's safer that way."
"I don't know." Ralph mumbled uneasily. He had always depended on that Kricketune for advice. "It's up to her, I guess."
"Then let's go help with the work around town." Morfient stood up. "By the way, Ralph... I'm staying in Nuvema Town."
"What?" Ralph exclaimed.
"I'm not much for fighting." Morfient explained, "But I can send food to you, wherever you are."
"But what about Trent?" Xeno asked.
"I'm coming with you guys." Trent said, "That way, I can keep on TANKING!" He and Morfient exchanged a glance, and Ralph guessed that they'd already had a discussion on the topic.
"That's that, then." Ron got up.
"Poffins..." Jason mumbled in his sleep, "Wa-Waffles..."
"Let's go help the townsfolk." Rachiel turned and ran off with Xeno. Mark, after a hesitating look at Marcus, went after them, along with Ron.
"We're gonna go lookout." Ame told Ralph, and bounded off with Charnette.
"Oh yeah..." Lumiere floated over. "Scarlet sent a note. It appeared on podium in the Chapel after the battle."
"Scarlet?" Ralph yelped. He had almost forgotten about the oracle. "Where is she? Is she okay?" He took the note hastily. Inside was a quickly scrawled note.
Dear Ralph,
Do not worry about me. I am playing my part. I have a prophecy for you, and some favors.
1) A long time ago, I lost my Absolite. I have foreseen that you will ultimately be the one to recover it. Please return it to me when you have done so.
2) Do not lose heart, old friend. There are ups and downs in life, and that's life. Use your failures as your pawsteps towards success.
3)The voices are louder than ever. I can hear them. They have the need to talk to you. Please follow their advice.
The road before the chosen ones is unpaved and filled with stones
Among them, a knight will go off alone.
His heart filled with regret of a past mistake made
Carved in the metals of an ancient blade.
Upon the chosen ones, a great battle shall befall
But will it be that in their hearts, courage is installed?
Or shall it be impudence that destroys them all?
You have my best wishes, Ralph. I shall see you soon... but not as the Scarlet you've known...
~Scarlet
Ralph let out a sigh of relief. "She's alive!" Then his brows furrowed into a frown. "But what did she mean? A knight? And what's impudence?"
"Superbia. It means overconfidence." Lumiere said, "But why would we get overconfident?"
"Lumiere-senpai!" the Gardevoir known as May rushed over, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I-I know this is sudden... but..." She swallowed and gathered up her courage. "C-Can I join the Revolutionists? Pretty please?" She looked at Lumiere hopefully.
"Of course, my apprentice. Medics are much needed during battles, anyways. If that's okay with you, Ralph." he added quickly.
Ralph nodded. "That's fine. Morfient's staying here, anyways. We'll be glad to have you along." he said formally as he shook May's hand.
"Oh, thank you so much!" May squealed with excitement, her eyes, gleaming, "I'll do my best!"
Ralph smiled. "I know you will."
In the darkness...
"I can't believe they won!" the spy hissed as he watched the Lucario named Robin or Roofus or something shake paws with a Gardevoir, "I was so sure they'd lose!"
"It doesn't matter. It was foretold." the feminine voice drifted over the phone, "If you have no other news..."
"Oh, they know Scarlet! In fact, the Lucario just got a note from her... but I can't get close enough to see it without being detected..." the spy reported, "Maybe if I use a telescope? Oh... he put it away... under his pillow. Ugh."
"A note from Scarlet? Then steal it. They won't need it anymore, anyways. Prophecies often lead to disastrous events when one attempts to thwart fate."
"Uh... easy for you to say. You want me to snatch it from his paws?"
"Use the darkness, you idiot. It has and will always be our ally."
"Um... fine, then. Send another spy here to keep watch on Nuvema Town." he told his superior, "I'm gonna follow those soon-to-be losers. By the way, have you seen anything with that freaky foreshadowing brain of yours?"
Her whispery murmur came through the communicating device, and he almost dropped it. "Wait―what's going to happen?"
In the Northern Kingdom...
Darkrai paced the throne room angrily as General Blobby trembled before him like a bowl of quivery gelatin. Her Highness Matilda watched silently from her throne. She had sensed impending disaster earlier and was wisely staying silent.
"First of all, Mali fell at the paws of our own soldiers!" Darkrai hissed in a scathing voice, "And you told me that Amethyst and Charnette were dead! Do you know what a crime it is to have those two against us?" His peacock blue eyes bore holes into the Swalot. "Secondly, you, one of the highest generals in the ranks of the Shadow Force, was beaten by a bunch of huggable pink pokemon from the Dreamyard, of all places! And lastly... you lost the battle and half the army!" he finished with a bellow, "Do you know what this means, General Blobby? Do you know what kind of message this sends out?" He didn't wait for the poor general to reply. "A group of pathetic Pokemon led by a paltry Lucario was able to defeat our great armada! Do you know how many towns and cities in the suburbs will start rebelling now?" he hissed the last words into the general's face. General Blobby trembled like a plate of agitated jelly.
"Lord Darkrai." Darkrai spun around as two Pokemon suddenly appeared. "You asked for us?" General Doomsday inquired as the dark Pokemon appeared with Ranark at its side.
"Yes." Darkrai growled, "You are now in full command of the remaining bits of General Blobby's army until I find a new general."
"What―NO!" General Blobby protested frantically, "M-My Lord! I'll do better! I won't fail next time!"
"There won't be a next time." Darkrai's voice hardened, "Guards! Take this miserable failure to the dungeons."
"NOOOOO! But―NOOOOO!" General Blobby wailed as two Arboks dragged him away, "My lord!"
"And General Doomsday." Darkrai spun around to face the dark pokemon, who was hidden in the folds of a dark robe. "I approve of your plan of a better training for our foot-soldiers. You have my blessings to ascend to the highest rank of the Shadow Force!"
General Doomsday nodded, but didn't smile. The general rarely smiled.
"Hey―what about me?" Ranark demanded, "I've been here longer than General Doomsday, err, respectfully," he added with a glance at the dark general, whose fangs were bared, "Surely it is not right that―"
"General Doomsday has proven to be much more skillful than you in all areas of combat and command." Darkrai cut him off, "No more of this discussion. Measures must be taken to detain this rebellion."
"And may I ask―what measures?" Matilda asked, walking towards the trio, "Understand that I too, am part of the Shadow Force and of the same rank as you, so I demand that I get all the details on your latest plans."
"We will launch a great battle that will subdue their sorry rebellion." Darkrai said with a menacing smile, "And―"
"Your Highness!" A patter of footsteps sounded as a group of Trevenants scampered in, carrying a badly battered Pokemon...
"Xiawa!" Matilda exclaimed as she rushed over to her loyal spy, "What happened?"
"He arrived at one of our outposts, badly beaten and half-dead, and collapsed." One of the Elder Tree pokemon replied, panting hard.
Xiawa opened his eyes. They were filled with horror. He muttered something inaudible.
"What? What did he say?" Matilda demanded
"Can't... remember... too dark..." the Weavile wheezed out, "And..." His eyes were lit with horror again. "Him. It's him."
"Who?" Matilda urged, "Who is he?"
"He..." Xiawa struggled for breath, then started murmuring again.
"What did he say?" Matilda inquired.
A Trevenant looked up. "He said, 'He's supposed to be dead.'"
As Matilda frantically paced her throne room, wondering what Xiawa's blabbings about a dead pokemon was about, Darkrai, motioned for Doomsday and Ranark to follow him into a shadowy corner of the room.
"Prepare your troops," he whispered, "And call in General Stary from Sinnoh. We will need her here."
"What is our target?" General Doomsday asked.
Darkrai's eyes flashed meaningfully. He smiled.
"The City of Grandeur."
Credits:
alpha2275: LoG Representative on Fanfiction and Fanfiction Manager
MarcusUCOD: Dialogue Writer
Esther Hung: Chief Writer, Editor, Video Maker, and Character Creator
Anisa Krieg: Writer, Artist, Character Creator, and Tweaker
(More TBD...)