"I really hope this plan of your's works Light." Silver said as the NAA made their way toward Petalburg City and the final battle.
"It will work." Light said curtly.
Relations between the two NAA commanders had been strained since the meeting the previous day and neither party had gone out of their way to resolve the issue. While the soldiers weren't picking up on the tension, Momo, Nate and Grunt certainly were, making the march very uncomfortable.
The plan for the capture of Petalburg was fairly straightforward, even for Light. The NAA was to surround Petalburg, cutting off routes of escape, and began the engagement. With superior numbers and fighting strength, Light expected the battle to fall easily into their hands and if not, surrounding and seiging the city was still an option.
The NAA forces were about halfway to Petalburg when Silver stopped and said, "This is where we will begin our encirclement of the city. Split into two halves and create a perimeter around Petalburg. It's been an honor leading you all, hopefully this is our final batt-"
"We're under attack!" A Soldier cried.
Why here? Why now? Light thought before yelling, "Scatter and regroup! If they want a fight, we can bring one to them right here! Grunt, take command of a couple battalions of Knights and get them organized. Nate, do the same with the AKs. Once a couple groups form, our troop's composure will return."
"Are those your commands Silver?" Grunt asked his new commander, prompting an odd look from Light.
"Yes! Do what he says!" The shiny Eevee responded before Grunt and Nate went off into battle. Once they were gone, she asked Light, "I suppose we're going into the thick of things as well?"
"If a King doesn't lead, how can he expect his subordinates to follow?" Light replied before leading Silver and Momo into the fray.
"I'm going to start organizing some more of our ground forces." Momo declared once they reached thicker fighting.
After Momo left, a voice from above cried, "Look who decided to show up!"
"Hello again Grace." Light replied cordially as he ascended to match her altitude. "How nice of you to throw us this welcoming committee."
"I knew you NAA amateurs would be hot under the collar from our sneak attack yesterday, so I had our troops retreat to Oldale town instead of Petalburg." The Olympian replied smugly. "It was waaay too easy to draw you in like this."
A sword quickly materialized in Grace's hand to block a Shadow Ball coming from the ground.
"Just because you drew us in, doesn't mean your trap is going to stop us!" Silver cried.
"We'll just see about that." Grace smiled and charged at Light with her blade at the ready.
"Night Slash!" He cried, deflecting the attack and launching one of his own. "Silver!" Light cried over the sound of claw meeting steel. "Lay down suppressing fire! I'll handle close quarters combat and you handle ranged."
"That's a well thought out plan." Grace said, now dual wielding blades to keep both NAA commander's attacks at bay. "But I can take it."
Switching from dual blades to a large bo staff, Grace began twirling her new weapon rapidly around her, creating distance from Light and defense from Silver's attacks.
"She's on the defensive!" Light cried, firing Shadow Balls at the now immobilized Grace. "Keep up the attacks!"
Shadow Ball after Shadow Ball detonated against Grace's hastily formed barrier as the battle continued to escalate around them. After a short while, both Light and Silver ended their attacks exhausted at the use of so much energy at once.
"Tired already?" Came Grace's smug reply from behind a cloud of smoke, "God you're even worse than my Ex in the bedroom. Looks like it's my turn." As the staff disappeared, a bow and arrows took its place. "Arrow Storm!"
Dozens of arrows came out of the sky for each one Grace shot upward, creating an unavoidable attack for the now exhausted duo.
"Shadow Ball Shield!"
"Protect!" Two cried in tandem as Light descended to the ground.
"Look who's on the defensive now!" Grace yelled, as she fired more arrows into the air.
As the assault continued against Silver and Light, arrows began entering neighboring battles, and striking down NAA soldiers.
"Light we have to do something!" Silver cried, "She's attacking our troops."
"Not yet." Light replied. We need longer to regain our strength, otherwise she'll just force us right back into this position. "We need to let her use up a little more of her strength before we can effectively counterattack."
"And you're fine just using our men as cannon fodder until the field evens out!?" Silver replied, clearly offended. "Well I'm not! Swift!"
Releasing her Protect, Silver began launching a projectile attack of her own, hoping to put the pressure back on their opponent.
As Silver's yellow stars met the oncoming arrows, Grace said, "Looks like this one has some spunk!" and began firing shotputs at the counterattacking Pokemon.
Once Grace shifted her concentration to Silver, the Arrow Storm technique she had been using ended, allowing Light a slight reprieve before he reentered the battle.
That idiot! He thought. If we had only let her continue her technique, we could have turned the tables on this battle. "Slash attack!" Light cried, catching the preoccupied Grace off guard.
Trying to capitalize on the opportunity, Silver dashed in with a Quick Attack, only to be met with Grace's fist at the last second.
"You gnats just keep coming don't you?" Grace said as Silver crashed into the ground. She quickly turned and began matching Light's attacks punch for punch.
I've got to start landing some hits. Light thought before yelling, "Fury Swipes!"
Instead of allowing his blows to land, as he had hoped, launching the attack actually made Light's attacks easier to read, giving Grace the perfect opportunity to knock him to the ground as well.
"Damn it!" The fallen NAA commander cried, smashing his fist into the ground.
"Thanks for the fun but I think its timed I retreated." Grace said,
"Why... don't you just... defeat us right here..." Silver croaked out, revealing the large amount of damage she had taken.
"Today's fight was never about putting an end to you. It was all about whittling down your forces, which has gone above and beyond my original expectations." The Human commander said proudly. "Now if you attack Petalburg directly, you won't have the manpower to lay seige to the city."
"You're forcing our hand." Light replied through grit teeth.
"Exactly. Our next battle will truly be our last. I hope you're prepared." Grace said before flying off toward Petalburg.
"They're retreating. All men-"
"Focus your fire on the enemy commander!" Light yelled, cutting off Silver's command to disengage.
As shots began to concentrate around the Olympian, she turned around and yelled, "Is that how you're gonna be? I was being gracious sparing your forces but you leave me no choice now! Arrow Storm!"
Arrows once again rained from the sky only instead of being blocked, each arrow hit its target, a New Age Alliance member, swiftly ending their attacks on the retreating commander. As the large scale attack ended, Grace's flight path wobbled slightly and then followed her remaining forces back to base.
With wounded and groaning soldiers littering the battlefield, Silver used Quick Attack on Light, smashing him into a nearby tree.
"What the HELL was that!?" She cried.
"Her forces were retreating." Light said calmly. "Since we weren't prepared last time, I thought we could deal heavy damage to their commander. I was wrong."
"And look at what your mistake has cost us! Over half of our forces are wounded in some way or another! How are we supposed to take Petalburg now!?"
"If you had waited longer before starting your counterattack, we wouldn't even have to worry about Petalburg! We could've taken her down right here!"
"And let soldiers get injured in the process?! That isn't an option." Silver replied
"Look at how many more soldiers got hurt because you didn't consider it an option."
"They got hurt because you decided to be an idiot and force the issue! These losses are on your head, not mine."
"Guys! What happened out there!" Momo cried, running to the scene with both Nate and Grunt in tow.
"Nothing." Light replied curtly. "If you'll excuse me, I have a battle plan to revise." and walked off.
"Give it to us straight Silver." Nate said, "What did happen out there?"
"Light's hero complex got the better of him." Silver replied. "He was willing to sacrifice our entire fighting force just to defeat Grace."
"That sounds a little extreme, even for Light..." Momo replied.
"Light was the guy who gave the last command there." Grunt replied, providing evidence to support Silver's claim.
"What are we gonna do?" Momo asked, unsure as to whether Petalburg was still an obtainable goal.
"We're still attacking Petalburg." Silver declared. "A setback like this right after new leadership has taken hold could fracture our fragile Alliance."
"But what about Light?" Nate asked worriedly, "What if he makes another rash decision like today? What then?"
"I'll keep a careful eye on him during the battle." Silver replied. "And I think it's time we think of a permanent solution to that problem..."
Some Time Later
"Hello again Silver." Person 1 voice said from Silver's transceiver. "I heard you're the new commander of the NAA. Congratulations."
"Th-Thank you sir." The Eevee replied meekly.
"Now that you've taken command, how is our Light problem faring?"
"Plans have been set into motion sir." Silver replied. "Light will be taken care of after the Battle for Petalburg. One way... or the other."
AN: One more chapter and the second arc of Pokemon New Age will be complete! Are you guys pumped for the Battle for Petalburg? I hope so!
Also, I know this anniversary has long since passed, but Pokemon New Age has been ongoing for over a year now! Is there anything special you guys would like me to do to celebrate this special occasion(i.e. A special chapter of some kind)? Leave a review with your suggestion. Thanks for all the support!
Vryzz