Chapter 20
"Tsunami…"
"Is this a dream?"
"… yes it is."
"That doesn't sound dreamlike. Why can't I see you?"
"It doesn't matter. I've seen into the future."
"How?"
"I'm Dialga, child."
Tsunami paused. "Hmph. What have you done to help me rescue Lily?"
"Nothing, quite honestly." The voice sighed. "I've come here to warn you."
"What? About what?"
"You… you will face a choice in the future. Child… do you fear death?"
Tsunami paused. "Yes. I don't think any creature in his of her right mind can live without fearing it." He thought about it. "But it is a fear that can be overcome."
"Really? I've had Mesprit search through your emotions… you're confused… heartbroken. You have no idea if you will see that Espeon again. Yes… you're a brave one, Tsunami."
"So what did you come to warn me for?"
"The decision you must make will pain your young friend more than anything…"
He swallowed. "What are you saying?"
The voice didn't respond for awhile. "You must do what is necessary, my child."
"Are you saying that… she'll die?"
"I cannot tell you anything else. But… both of you… and all your friends… you must all be strong."
Out of the darkness of the dream stepped part of Dialga's body. He bowed his head. "Please… be strong. If Palkia controls the ruins… the damage he will bring…"
Tsunami blinked. That was real. Standing in the doorway was Lira. "Err… Vaporeon. We've arrived at the ruins."
He nodded. "Thanks for telling me."
Awkwardly, she said, "I'm sorry for trying to get you to… mate with me… that was quite lewd…"
"It's alright. It's forgiven."
She quickly spun around and walked away.
He rubbed his eyes. This was the best he'd slept in a long time. He stood up and picked up his sheath with Orachilum in it. One last time… maybe.
He stepped out onto the floating island, where the others were all waiting. "Hmm… that's everyone," said Siarnaq.
"Let's go," said Tsunami. The others all nodded.
"We'll stop Palkia," said Aero. "I know."
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
First came the dead. Lily and Saphia, who was a better warrior than Lily remembered, blasted their way through mobs of enemies. Vail was really just a sign of things to come. The dead were indistinct, many of them so dark that it wasn't even clear what species they were. Yet they posed very little threat in reality, despite their clear aggression.
Saphia was really something. Her ribbons each held a dagger, and she spun around, gracefully dicing up anything that came too close; she nearly sliced off Lily's tail a few times.
And Lily felt this unusual power flowing through her veins. Maybe it was because she had come from the dead, but she felt great! Blast of energy, illusions, and whacking those who came too close with her staff; battle was so simple all of a sudden!
"Look out, sis. Massive bird incoming."
Lightning crackled across the sky, and the shadows seemed to melt into the ground.
"Zapdos." Lily held up her staff. "I thought Raikou taught you a lesson."
"Don't say that name." She felt the energy racing toward the electric type's body.
Saphia had other ideas. She quickly launched a barrage of knives at him. The electric type dodged it, and he countered with a barrage of lightning. Saphia jumped around nimbly, launching Moonblasts in between attacks. Zapdos was obviously no slouch himself, and neither landed a hit. Lily was about to try help when suddenly, Zapdos' eyes got big. His shriek was cut short as he plummeted to the ground, frozen.
Lily turned around. "Azura!"
The Glaceon's smile grew huge as her eyes lit up. "Lily! Oh my god, you're alive! Tsunami will be-"
"Tsunami… where is he?" Lily scanned the crowd, looking for the Vaporeon.
"He said he had to talk to Aero about something very important. I don't know what it was, but I don't think he expected us to find you this quick."
Lily noticed Zephyr the Jolteon was standing very close to her. Are they… did something…? Her thoughts were interrupted by the voice she knew so well.
"Lily."
Her heart fluttered. "Tsunami. Y-you…" Now that she thought about it, she wasn't really too sure what she should say. I love you? No… It was so awkward that he had been the one to kill her.
Saphia looked at Lily with amusement in her eyes. Pallene whispered something to Siarnaq.
"I'm… sorry?" The Vaporeon rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't really know what else to say. Sorry for killing you?"
"You'd better be sorry. That's not the way you should treat-"
"I really meant what I said," he said quietly. "Back in the cave. I… I love you, Lily."
She slowly walked up to him, and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you too, Tsunami. And don't forget, you owe me for killing me."
He had a blush on his face. "We'll see," he murmured. Was that a look of sadness…?
"Tsunami, is-"
"Let's go find Palkia. We may have to reason with him…"
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"Azura…"
She turned around. "Oh, hey Zephyr… what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just… we're on our way to kill Palkia and all, and flying up." He sat on the bed next to her. "I haven't had blood in awhile," he said casually.
She blinked. "Umm… I'm not on the menu. I'm pretty sure there are diseases and stuff I could get if you tried biting me…"
"That's… not what I meant." He blinked. "I mean, before, it seemed like a nice possibility, but… you're not the type to lie down for me are you?"
"Nope. You got that right."
He sighed. "This ship is on it's way to a god, whom we're trying to kill. I just don't think it'd be fair to either of us to die without me telling you… uh, something."
She sat up. The ship hummed along, riding the winds up. "Well?"
The Jolteon looked at her. "I've never been one to enjoy company much. My sister was my only friend for a long time since I was always desiring blood. But I want to say… I really like you, Azura."
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She blinked, and finally found her voice. "That's… sweet, Zephyr."
"You… think so?"
The two of them sat there on the bed awkwardly. "Well… yeah. I mean, you're older than me… but… I've never been in a relationship before. It'll be fun."
Zephyr smiled. "Y-yeah. If you're sure…"
"By the way, how old are you again? 24?"
"25."
"Yeah. That's a big age gap. But I think we'll be fine."
"Fine? With what?"
"This." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I know it's only been a few days, but this is thanks for helping me after the Boldore attack earlier."
He nodded at her. "If we get through this… well, maybe we could live together? I still haven't found Maddie, and you already told me what happened with you and your parents."
"I think that'd be fun. We could-"
The ship shook as it docked onto he ruins. "We're here you two," said the Flareon.
Both their faces turned pink. "Were you watching us?!" asked Azura.
The Flareon chuckled. "Come on out."
That had all happened earlier on the ride to the ruins. Azura was walking alone with Lily now, trying to find Palkia. For a legendary that big, he was hard to spot.
"You alright, Lily?" Her friend seemed a little concerned. "You look a little dead."
Lily rolled her eyes. "That was terrible."
"Alright. What's wrong?"
"It's just… Tsunami. He seems depressed. I mean, he was happy to see me… but I thought he'd be happier," confessed the Espeon.
"Don't worry. He's probably just nervous. I mean, Palkia technically could summon a massive black hole and kill the world as we know it, but that would probably kill him too. But you get my point: it's quite a feat for those four to have stood up to him. He doesn't want to lose you again."
"And I certainly don't want to lose him again, either," replied Lily. "I just want to talk to him again and understand what's bothering him. I fear I might not get that chance…"
"Maybe he 's scared. I think he just doesn't want to scare you. He told you how much he cares for you."
"I… I guess… but I want to talk to him…"
"Lily…" The two female eons turned around to see Aero landing next to them.
"Aero! What are you doing here with us?"
The Staravia blinked. "Tsunami… he… told me to ask you something very important…"
"What is it?"
"He… he asked me if you would ever leave him."
"What does he mean by that?" asked Azura.
"Is he questioning how much I care for him?" asked Lily.
They heard a sigh. "No, that's not what I meant." The Vaporeon had been searching with his three original friends.
"You see," began Thrymr, "Palkia is not going to let us escape, even if we do happen to defeat him… I've got a terrible feeling about what is going to happen if we do choose to face him."
Siarnaq was quiet. "I can sense it… a disaster is imminent."
"But how? How could he destroy everything if he's dead?"
"I don't know… but how will we stop something we don't know about?" asked Azura.
Then the ground began to shake. "What's going on?!" said Thrymr, trying to keep his balance. A green flash lit up the sky.
"That's the second time I've seen that."
They heard footsteps approaching, but it was just Saphia. She had gone to look around. She was huffing. "We've got to hurry… I found some information on the ruins and it's bad."
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Landon glared at Palkia. "Let us go!" Celebi, himself, and Madison were pinned by his energy. The crushing gravity didn't allow them to get up.
Palkia laughed. "Or what? I saw you sneaking in the forest after your little Leafeon escaped. How should I kill her? Maybe I could skin her… then… bleed the non-vital organs, then…"
"Don't worry, Madison. I'll protect you."
His love had her eyes closed, her body quivering from the intense gravity Palkia had summoned. She didn't respond.
Palkia sighed. "Where are those others? There's no fun killing if they don't put up a fight. I can feel them…"
He bent down and picked up Madison. "No!"
Palkia looked at the Leafeon in his hand. Madison opened her eyes. "Palkia."
"Leafeon. You were able to escape, but not this time. Your mate couldn't kill those three, and now you'll both pay the price. You should have run while you had a chance."
"I may have been captured, but you underestimate me."
"Oh? What can you do then?"
"Watch." She closed her eyes.
"Well?" growled Palkia.
"No!" She opened her eyes. "You have to put me on the ground first!"
"Don't think about running."
"Of course not. Why would I do that?"
What are you planning, Maddie? "Oh, you're doing the trick," he said, trying to play along.
"Yeah. Obviously. Alright… I'll turn the ground into- gah!"
The gravity pulled her to the ground again. "I'm not falling for your tricks, Leafeon!" He picked up his massive axe; his combat weapon. "Prepare to die!"
"Palkia… please stop this madness… your dabbling with dark energy has made you crazy…" Celebi looked at the legendary. "Please stop…"
For a moment, the crazed look in his eyes faded, but it was gone so quick Landon thought he imagined it. "No! You are all wrong! You're the ones who are wrong!"
Celebi shot Madison a glance, then nodded to Landon. "So be it… goodbye…"
Landon felt himself vanishing.
"Celebi!" screamed Madison.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"I just heard a scream!" Lily spun around. They had been reading a tablet in the ruins that Saphia had found.
A blue glow came from outside. They all ran out to see what was wrong. "Ah! A… Umbreon and a Leafeon!"
Lira scowled. "Well gee, the whole Eon family is here then…"
"Celebi!" The Leafeon fell to her knees, sobbing. "No… you did your best to save me… and you'll pay for my mistake…"
"Wait… I recognize you…" said Tsunami. "You!"
The Umbreon wrapped his arms around the anguished Leafeon. "It's okay, Madison. Celebi was willing to do it…"
They must be mates… thought Lily, immediately thinking of Tsunami.
"Let's go," said Aero. "We must stop Palkia…"
"Let us help," burst out the Leafeon. "We'll help!"
"I-"
"FOUND YOU!"
Nobody needed to be told that Palkia had found them.
This is it! The final battle! Read and Review!
