Chapter 16
Hope Fades
(Meanwhile, the battle outside the lair rages on…)
(3rd-person narrative)
"Prima! Get out of there! Now!" Lance shouted desperately, freefalling with his Dragonite down towards his wife who was on the verge of being surrounded by Shadow Gyarados and Tentacruel. Meanwhile, Delia retreated to the skies on her Altaria alongside Professor Oak on his Charizard, recalling her Milotic just in time as she evacuated from the sea.
The battle was virtually – if not well and truly – lost now, even with the aid of the Legendaries. The Shadow Pokémon were far too many, swarming over and around the defenders like a plague of locusts. Trainers and Pokémon alike retreated in disarray in droves, running for their lives until they reached high ground, where the bulkier Shadow Pokémon could not easily follow. But Lance, concentrating solely on saving his wife, stopped at nothing to reach her as he swooped down and pulled her up with him onto Dragonite's back, upon which she hastily recalled her Lapras. Prima was in tears as she held onto her husband in sorrow; her dear Dewgong had lost its life after throwing itself in front of a powerful Slash attack aimed at her by a Shadow Scyther. Accompanied by Lugia on his left and Ho-oh to his right, Lance bravely steered Dragonite back towards the ledge where Agatha's Gengar lead them to.
"This doesn't look good at all," Will shook his head, clenching his teeth. "Even the Legendaries have all pulled back, and they're shooting our flyers right out of the sky. I've got a bad- no…a terrible feeling about this…"
"Don't try to 'feel', child. Just fight!" Agatha berated him, causing him to gulp and nod reluctantly.
"Where is the air support?" Lt. Surge bellowed from the front lines on the beach, his Pokémon fighting on desperately.
"We ain't got none, sir!" cried back a corporal from the unit that Lt. Surge was formerly a part of. "Most of em' fliers have already been taken out during the dogfight!"
"To hell with that! Push harder!" the lieutenant shouted back. With his very command, the defending Pokémon began to push back the relentless attack of the Shadow Pokémon slowly (excruciatingly so), driving the battle lines back beyond the beach and providing some much-needed extra support for the Pokémon on the water, lead by an almost-exhausted Kyogre. The skies were virtually devoid of friendly flying Pokémon, with almost half of Pidgeot and Swellow's combined flock wiped out by the vicious Shadow Crobats, and supported now only by Lugia, Ho-oh, the numerous Celebis, Jirachi, Rayquaza, and Latias, who was drawing tears at the prospect that she may never get to see her love, Ash, again.
Meanwhile, as Mew and Mewtwo continued to fight on beside each other against the endless waves of Crobat, they saw a hole being burst through the side of the colossal structure that was Julius' lair. Feeling Ash and the others' presence, they soared towards it, in the hopes of saving them from a dark fate.
"Where's Arceus and his three Guardians?" Lance spoke through gritted teeth. "They should be here by now, instead of leaving us in oblivion!"
"Be patient, darling," Prima held his arm, "I'm sure they'll arrive soon. They won't forsake us."
"Let's hope so," Pyramid King Brandon said from aside, while continuing to look towards the battle with crossed arms. "Our strength will be bested, should this continue on for even one more hour…."
But then, everyone's attention shifted to the east, where the sound of several helicopters and gunships could be heard. Delia's mouth gaped open as she looked up at the lead gunship which was significantly larger than the others, to see a man whom she hadn't seen in person for more than two decades – Giovanni. Every vessel was adorned with Team Rocket's trademark 'R', and began to line up in formation for an attack.
"Greetings, all of you," Giovanni's voice rang out from a mega-speaker attached on the top of the massive gunship. Domino was standing next to him as usual, her arms crossed as she looked forward. Now a fully developed and beautiful woman at the age of 22, Domino was both feared and highly respected by the lesser agents and grunts, and, to an extent, those of her own class. Flicking her long, curly, golden locks of hair, she looked up at Giovanni before smiling as she reverted her attention back towards the battle, walking to the front of the gunship to give orders to the gunners as Giovanni spoke again. "I believe that you are bewildered by the fact that I – and Team Rocket, for that matter – has decided to show up at such an event. Simply put, let me answer your question, with a question of my own: what profit or gain will I make, should this world be destroyed forever at the hands of these…monstrocities? Now…hold the line!"
(Meanwhile, in Julius' lair)
(Ash's POV)
"You…have…betrayed me, girl…and I know of only one way…to deal with traitors…" Julius seethed with anger, advancing slowly towards me and Misty. In his rage, he completely ignored Ethan, who was merely a few feet away from him on the ground.
"Don't come any closer," Misty looked at him and replied back with a brave tone in her voice, embracing me in her arms. "…I'm warning you…"
"You…warn me?" Julius scoffed, chuckling as if he found the idea humorous. "Fool girl…It seems that you have forgotten just who it was, that granted you your power…secondly, do you truly think that I've taught you every technique there is to learn about Aura?"
"No matter how many techniques you've hidden from me…no matter how much more powerful you are than me…" Misty declared, "…you're not laying even a finger on my husband, again."
Julius stopped advancing, looking down emotionlessly before chuckling again, his shoulders going up and down with each low cackle. "…there is much you fail to understand…"
And with that, he telekinetically gripped Misty by the throat, causing her to hold her neck with both hands and gasp for air. He immediately followed up by pulling her towards him at a violent speed, before punching her mercilessly in the stomach with a fist that was charged with tremendous Aura energy, sending shockwaves through her entire body. Misty's head jerked back from the impact, her eyes closed and her face showing close to no emotion. Then, her unconscious body was hurled back at my feet, as I scrambled to see if she was breathing.
She was alive.
Barely.
"Misty!" I cried madly, tears literally pouring down my face. "Wake up!"
"And now…" Julius grinned, turning slowly and looking down at Ethan. "As for you, little one…"
"No!" Dad cried, leaping to his feet and running towards Julius. With a sharp yank, the chain connecting the heavy iron cuffs around his wrists shattered like a thin layer of glass, as he punched Julius with a tremendous force on the cheek. Caught completely by surprise, Julius fell wide-eyed onto the ground, his long, flowing cape falling over his head. Dad then rushed over to me and Misty's side, helping me to get her up onto her feet, although the two of us had to support her as she was still unconscious.
Instinctively, Sabrina immediately used her psychic powers to pull Ethan away from Julius and into her own arms, over the heads of the unexpecting Shadow Pokémon. "There, there," she whispered, cradling Ethan in her arms. "Everything's gonna be alright now, Ethan…"
Dad and I rushed over to rejoin the others along with Misty, as Paul and Gary's Electivires covered our escape by stunning Julius' pursuing Pokémon with a powerful Thunder attack. "Misty!" Brock said, feeling her pulse on her wrist. "Thank God she's alive after that."
"Brock, guys, we have to get out of here. Now," I uttered, as we saw Julius slowly getting back up on his feet.
"But how? The way we came in from is still blocked off!" Tracey cried. He was right – the stone door behind us was still standing firmly.
"We'll have to blast our way through! Stand back!" James shouted, drawing an explosive device from under his uniform and sticking it onto the wall.
"Aaah! James! Not da R-detonator!" Meowth wailed, putting his paws over his ears. "Dat thing's louder den an Exploud's roar!"
"Shut up, Meowth! We have no choice!" Jessie yelled, giving Meowth a hard knuckle on the forehead.
"Arming now!" James declared, putting it on the massive rock formation and taking out a detonator button. "Get back, everyone!" he yelled, as we all ran away from the door, recalling all our heavier Pokémon in the process.
"Not so fast…" Julius said, stretching his arm up. All of a sudden, a dark-purple barrier began to appear on the door, as the explosive began to flicker rapidly.
"Oh no, you don't!" Sabrina cried, jutting her hand out at Julius and sending him against the wall with her psychic power, as the barrier immediately vanished.
With a push of James' finger, the door blew apart, and we all rushed out together with our Pokémon.
"The little whore…" I looked back just before leaving, to see Julius sniggering as he curled and straightened his fingers in amusement. "…she actually hurt me!"
Deciding not to waste any more time, I ran out with Misty in my arms and followed right behind the others, who were following Dad.
"Dra…" I could hear his Dragonite's heavy legs stomping towards Julius' direction, to receive orders from his master.
"Pursue them. Let none survive."
"This way! Hurry!" Dad cried, looking back and leading us on with a swift motion of his hand. I looked sideways at Sabrina, who still held Ethan in her arms while I held Misty in mine. She was still in a state of deep sleep, oblivious to what was going on around her.
"Where are we going?" Gary panted.
"My Pokémon are being kept just down this path. It's been many years, but I still remember exactly where they are! We need to get them out!" Dad called back.
"We're right behind you, Mr. Ketchum!" Brock puffed, running with all possible speed after him. After a minute or so, Dad finally stopped by a large door, this time made of rotting wood which was evidently suffering from what seemed like centuries of constant decay. Busting it down with a swift kick, he ran into the room as I followed behind him.
Inside were, sure enough, the Pokémon which appeared to be exactly his, from what Mom told me years ago: a Salamence, Dragonite, Alakazam, Magmortar, Tyranitar, and of course, his most long-time companion, Venusaur. All were ensnared in black cages, and their eyes were just as pure as Dad, who resisted the corrupting influence of this place for more than 22 years. After trying unsuccessfully to pry open the cages with the nearby tools lying around, he scampered on the ground on his knees, frantically feeling around for something.
"What are you looking for, dad?" I asked quickly.
"My Pokéballs…I'm sure they're around here…somewhere," he said in between coughs caused by the extremely dusty floor. "I remember Julius simply discarding them on the ground, after locking up my Pokémon and separating us. He never saw the need to destroy them."
"Bulbasaur, help us out!" I called him as he immediately scurried to my side. "Use your twin vines and help us look for the Pokéballs!"
"Bulba!" he nodded, getting to it right away. After a minute or two of searching, we finally found the Pokéballs, and Dad recalled all of his Pokémon.
"Come on! We have to go, now!" Paul yelled. We could all hear the thunderous roars of Julius' Tyranitar and Nidoking, terrifying us.
"You heard him, let's go!" James cried nervously, and we were off again. To our horror as we looked back, Julius' Nidoking, Tyranitar and Scizor were very much right behind us, barely a few dozen feet away as they bounded forward madly.
"They're onto us! Run for it!" Brock shouted. But after running several dozen more yards away, we stopped dead in our tracks, as we saw the Shadow Dragonite, Salamence and Garchomp emerge from the other side of the hallway. We were surrounded and trapped, with nowhere to go.
"This is it. We have to fight our way through, it seems," Sabrina said, holding Ethan more tightly.
Paul remained silent, instead looking to his left towards the wall in a curious manner. Leaning up against it, he spoke to us. "There's nothing behind this wall. If we can punch through here, we'll be out in no time!"
"Then quick! Let's blast through it, before…before…" James cowered, biting his nails.
"One problem – there's no time for us all to get through, given that we're surrounded," Paul replied coolly, before looking down, closing his eyes. "…you guys go on ahead. I'll be fine…"
"What? You can't be serious, Paul!" I gasped. "If you don't make it out of here, then what's gonna happen to Dawn? Who'll take care of her?"
"That's of no importance in the immediate situation we're in, right now," Paul turned to me. "And it's not like we have much choice. Go. Now."
I nodded reluctantly, grievously pained to leave Paul behind. Calling all of his Pokémon out for a last stand, Paul ordered them to form a perimeter around us, while he commanded his Ursaring to blow a hole through the wall with a Hammer Arm. We shielded our eyes from the dust created by the impact as the hole was blown, revealing the outside world once again. Our allies were visibly being pummelled, pushed back right up to the shoreline where they fought on desperately. Surprisingly, Mewtwo and Mew flew over to us in a short flash, protected by their blue and pink barriers which the Shadow Pokémon couldn't pierce through. All of us, except for Paul who stayed behind, leapt into the barriers, taking refuge in the safe force-field.
"Ash…I have one last request…" Paul said to me, causing me to look at him in sorrow. "Tell Dawn, that…I love her…"
I nodded, my lips concealing the clenched teeth inside as Mew and Mewtwo flew off towards the high ground where Agatha, Morty and Will were located. All of us – except for Mewtwo – turned around as a massive explosion erupted from where Paul was facing off against the Shadow Pokémon, our hearts sinking and tears falling down our faces. Wasting no time, Mewtwo and Mew proceeded towards the ledge with all possible speed, touching down shortly after.
"Ah! You've made it back!" Will smiled, before his positive expression faded into one of disappointment. "and…by the sight of all the Shadow Pokémon lingering around, you…didn't take him out, did you…"
"We just simply couldn't," Brock panted, "They were pretty much invincible and impervious to all our attacks while we were in there."
"Yes. The darkness of that place feeds their power constantly," Mewtwo said. "I regret that we couldn't have done more for you…"
"Hey!" I shouted, noticing Team Rocket's vessels, "What are they doing here?"
"Da team down at da technology and satellite department must've picked up da massive Pokémon readings!" Meowth noted.
"And you know what that could only lead to…" Gary sighed. "Don't let a single eye stray from your Pokémon, everyone!"
"Oh, give it a break already!" Jessie groaned, "Do you really think that this is the right place and the right time to be trying to steal other people's Pokémon?"
"…good point," Brock noted.
"Well, at least we can be thankful that they're only shooting at one group, right now," Tracey exhaled in relief. "And luckily, it's not us!"
"I'm going back there…" I murmured, taking no heed of what was going on around me.
"Huh?" Brock, Gary, Tracey and Team Rocket looked at me in surprise, while the others kept on straight faces.
"I have to go back there," I said. "I have to stop him, otherwise this'll never end."
"Yes…you are correct," Mewtwo nodded. "However, I fear that…you may be going to your death."
"It's a risk that's worth taking, in my opinion," I declared. "I want to have the life I once knew, again, where I was living peacefully with Misty by my side. And the only way I'm going to get that, is to defeat him, once and for all."
"You're right, Ash. I'll come with you again," Brock placed his hand on my shoulder.
"No," I said, surprising him. "I have to do this alone, now. I can't get anyone else involved."
"Ash…please, think this over!" Sabrina cried, holding my arm tightly. "Don't rush into something from which you may never come back!"
"I've made my decision, Sabrina. I'm going," I said, walking towards the ledge. "Mewtwo, please help me get back there, again."
"Very well," he nodded, coming over to my side and reactivating his barrier. But just as he was about to take off, he was stopped as Latias came swooping in, stopping right in front of us.
"Latias…what are you doing?" I asked her. She replied with a series of cries, as I read her mind to see what she was getting at.
"It appears that she wants to take you there," Mewtwo said, before looking down at me. "Do you wish for that?"
Knowing just how headstrong Latias could be when she set her heart to do something, there was no refusing. "Yeah. I'll go with her."
"Very well," Mewtwo backed away, using his power to bestow a protective barrier around us. "I wish you good luck."
Nodding, Latias and I took off, zooming past friendly and hostile flying Pokémon alike, until we reached the very spot where the explosion took place.
Swooping through the broken portion of the wall, we looked left and right to make sure that the coast was clear. Paul and his Pokémon, nor that of Julius, were nowhere to be seen…
"So…you have returned…alone…" Julius' voice echoed throughout the hallway as he approached. "…a foolish decision, indeed…"
"This ends now, Julius," I spoke sternly. "I've had enough. And what have you done with Paul and his Pokémon?"
"Even I cannot answer that question for you, Chosen One," he replied, "For I do not know. But you may find comfort at the fact that…he has eliminated all of my Pokémon…" he growled in anger, his shadow looming towards me, reflected on the side walls. A few steps later, I could see him trudging towards me, as his body brimmed and surged with a red haze. "The impact of that explosion was far too great for any of them to survive, even with their powers being augmented by the dark Aura of this place. But, as you have said, it is time to end this, now…so let us begin…"
I concentrated my power, while Latias' eyes began to glow bright blue. Julius then suddenly began charging towards us, the swirling mist around his body giving the impression as if he were alight with a burning fire. Latias then unleashed her psychic attack on him, but Julius was moving forward with far too much momentum to be stopped: he knocked her out with a single punch on her face, sending her crumpling to the ground against the wall. He immediately attempted to follow up by pummelling me in the same manner, as I instinctively ducked and unleashed a sphere of Aura energy at him, sending him back to his original place.
"…quite impressive," he smirked, wiping trickles of dark blood from his lower lip while I checked on Latias. She regained her consciousness upon feeling my touch on her forehead, looking up at me with exhausted eyes.
"Sshh…just rest for now, Latias. Leave this to me," I soothed her, caressing her face before looking back at Julius. "It doesn't have to be this way, Julius. We can end this right here, without any more of this…carnage…"
"Yes…you're right, of course…" Julius sighed, looking down in what appeared to be remorse. "This can be ended…with your final death!" he suddenly sent another ball of corrupted Aura hurling my way, as I responded by launching an Aura sphere of my own, causing a moderate explosion as the two spheres collided.
"You monster!" I yelled. "I said I don't want to fight anymore! I want to go home, and live in peace! To go home and be with my wife! To go back and see my child grow up! Don't you even know about the importance of a family in your life?"
Suddenly, Julius' merciless expression softened, as he began to murmur to himself. "My wife…my child…home…family…"
Not knowing how to react, I chose to stay silent and watch his actions closely. Julius slowly looked up at me with teary eyes, opening his mouth to speak. "All that, I recall having the joy of possessing, many millennia ago. But now…I have nothing…my family is dead, by my own actions. My will is no longer my own. I must serve…my master…" he sighed, as he charged up another Aura attack, this one looking as if it would be the last, as I struggled to keep it at bay.
(Julius' POV)
Celia…Elysa…I will never see you again…
Such thoughts ran through my head as I continued my barrage of Aura attacks effortlessly, on the young boy who was struggling for dear life before me. The very ground around us shook and began to tear apart, but I couldn't stop…
I wanted death. I wanted to free myself from this wretched existence, and to finally find peace once more. But now, my power and my pride has at last consumed me wholly. I will never leave this place…never again be able to bask in the warmth of the sun, or to wake up beside my darling wife and see the morning sunrise together…never get to hold my sweet daughter again…
I closed my eyes, waiting to sense that the Chosen One's power had been completely spent, until…
"Julius…" a soothing, feminine voice called out to me from a place where I could not see. It has been millennia, but never for a single moment in my life did I forget the sound of her voice…
I called out to her, my eyes watering with disbelief and happiness as all around me turned white. "…Celia?"
"Let go, my love…let go of everything, and return to us…we've missed you so…"
"I can't, Celia…my will… is not my own any longer…nor my life…"
"Don't fear his power any longer. You have me, darling…Trust me, Julius, as you always have…trust in your heart…let go…" her voice spoke to me again, as I felt a warm touch on my hand. Not wanting to live a life of misery and servitude any longer, I ceased my attack, as the Chosen One's Aura sphere rippled throughout my body. The red haze and corrupted Aura that had consumed me for so long vanished entirely, leaving me lying against the wall, dying. But I could feel no pain…only tranquil peace, as the sound of Celia's voice echoed in my mind like the sweet melody of a harp.
"Julius…" she sobbed as I opened my eyes, seeing her beautiful face again for the first time in millennia. "…I've missed you so much…" she wrapped her arms around me tightly as we kissed.
"Dada…" called our child Elysa, walking over to me and fondling my face. Smiling, I took her in my arms and embraced her. Looking up, all of my Pokémon were now back to their original selves, smiling at me as they stood next to one another.
I looked back at the Chosen One, whispering softly as I departed for the afterlife with my family and Pokémon. "…thank you…"
(Ash's POV)
It's over…
Julius was gone; his body evaporated into the air, shortly after I defeated him. For a moment, I couldn't sworn I had seen pale white, transparent figures surround him, including a woman, a young girl and his Pokémon which we fought against, earlier…
"Latia~~s?" she called out to me, asking me if it was all over. I walked towards the gap in the wall and peered out, to see all the Shadow Pokémon either passing on by dissipating in a white mist, or coming back to their senses, dumbfounded by how they came to be where they were. Meanwhile, not a single attack was shot again from either side.
"It is, Latias. And thank God for that," I sighed, falling to my knees. "Let's go back," I said to her, helping her back up. She looked at me intently, as if she wanted me to immediately get on again. "Are you sure, Latias? You took a pretty major blow from that attack…"
"Tia~~s!" she smiled, rubbing her face against mine as if she was thanking me for caring about her.
"Hey, hey, cut it out! I'm married, remember?" I insisted. "Now, let's go and join the others again."
After a brief and gentle flight, we arrived back to be greeted by all the Gym Leaders and Elite Four, as well as the others. Mom and Dad were embracing each other, teary and too emotional to notice us as first as we flew in. Misty had finally regained consciousness, smiling weakly at me as Sabrina and Brock supported her. The pitch-black clouds in the sky were now beginning to recede, with tiny gaps forming to reveal weak rays of sunlight.
"Ash…honey, you're back…" Misty whimpered softly as I rushed over and held her, relieved to have her back again.
"Well done, son," Dad smiled at me, while Mom was hugging him and lad her head on his chest.
"Good job, Ash!" Tracey beamed. "It's finally over! Now we can all go back home, and-"
"It's not over yet…" Mewtwo looked up at the skies, which were now clouding up with a black misty which was even thicker and even more dangerous than before, as the rest of us all held our noses: the air was growing toxic.
"What's going on?" Gary choked, looking at the clouds which loomed over us.
"He is here…" Mewtwo exhaled with a sense of despair.
Then, all people and Pokémon alike looked up at the skies, to see a twisting spiral of dark mist and fire descending in the distance, growing larger and larger as it travelled through the air. After coming into the view of everyone, the figure stopped, and the mist around it dissipated in a great explosion which burst in every direction from its center. As the flames subsided, we looked again to see what appeared to be a likeness of Arceus, but with a body of heavy and black carapace, deadly thorns around its body, and two sharp, curved horns on its head, reminiscent of a devil. His eyes burned red with an intense hatred for all life, as he looked at us with a menacing glare.
"Foolish mortals…" it bellowed at us in a low, reverberating voice. "You may have defeated my lowly minions, but you cannot begin to comprehend the gruesome fate that you have just chosen, by defying my will. I…am the great Apothes…"
"Leave this place, and never return," Mewtwo responded in a warning tone. "Otherwise, I assure you, that today will be your end."
"And what is this?" Apothes mocked, "You, Mewtwo, are not even a Legendary Pokémon by birthright. You are not even included in the hierarchy of Legendary Pokémon, established by Arceus. Your powers, nor the powers of any of you standing before me, are even worthy of contesting that of my own. And where, I might ask, is your beloved master, now? How is it that he cannot even summon up the courage to present himself here today, instead of residing in the dark void of space like the coward that he really is?"
Sick and tired of the sound of his voice, Groudon launched a massive SolarBeam attack at Apothes. But his attack was swatted away like a fly by the red barrier that surrounded Apothes, which revealed itself just as the attack was about to make contact. Groudon grunted, angry that his attack did not obliterate its intended target.
"Bumbling fool…" Apothes scoffed again. "Let me instruct you in the way of true power…"
His body starting to course with an intense fire, Apothes shot out countless small spheres of dark energy in all directions, devastating everything that stood in their path: several of Team Rocket's attack craft were sent falling through the air onto the sea or into rocks, and several Pokémon were annihilated by the dark pulses of energy which crashed into them. We were barely saved, as Mewtwo and Mew put up their blue and pink barriers around us just in time. In retaliation, Kyogre launched a Thunder attack at Apothes, distracting him and halting his barrage of dark energy, as Rayquaza, Lugia, Ho-oh, Mewtwo and Mew immediately took to the skies to engage him in close combat; the three flying Pokémon firing Dragonbreath, Aeroblast and Sacred Fire attacks at Apothes, while Mewtwo and Mew clashed against him in their destructive barriers. But despite their combined efforts, Apothes drove them back, seeming to be close to unaffected. In desperation, nearly all of our fliers – including the previously possessed former Shadow Pokémon who joined in, out of anger – flew up to assist the five Legendaries in the fight – Charizard voraciously shooting Flamethrower after Flamethrower attack – but to no avail. Apothes was completely out of their league.
"Our power…" Mewtwo started to pant, "…appears to have been bested…"
"As you can see, your powers, even when combined, are no match for that of my own," Apothes stated. "Now, if you will cease your pathetic and useless attacks and kneel before me, I will consider letting you live…"
"We cannot win this fight. Not by our own powers, Mewtwo," Lugia sighed.
"I know, friend," Mewtwo replied, "All of us are exhausted, and none possess the necessary power that will rival Apothes. Perhaps this is indeed a lost cause…"
"You can't give up!" I shouted up at them, catching all their attention. I then turned to Latias, who remained by my side. "We have to get over there, Latias."
"Ash, wait!" Misty cried, drawing tears. "Please, don't leave me!"
I ran over to her again, holding her tightly and kissing her deeply on the lips. "I have to, Mist. It's the only way to end all this. But I promise I'll be back. I promise."
After a moment of teary hesitation and thought, she nodded reluctantly, giving me another kiss before she backed away and stood next to Mom. I walked back to Latias, giving her a slight nod to tell her that I was ready to depart.
"Latia~s," she cried. I climbed onto her back, bracing myself as she lifted off through the air, flying until she was next to Mewtwo.
"What are you doing?" he asked me.
"Joining the fight," I replied straight.
"But you are badly wounded, exhausted and weary, Chosen One," Lugia looked at me. "Are you sure that you can continue?"
I chose to not answer that question, instead drawing focus on the most pressing matter at hand. "What does The Prophecy say about how we can defeat him, Mewtwo?"
"It states that only through the combined powers of the Chosen One, who represents the collective will of mankind, and Arceus, who represents the collective will of all Pokémon, will the world be delivered from the darkness of Apothes, forever," he explained. "But Arceus is still nowhere to be seen-" he stopped, as a radiant white light emerged from the skies, shining down onto the seas from within the darkness of the clouds. As a shining sphere of bright light descended from the air, it pierced through and dissipated the dark clouds around it, as everyone present shielded their eyes from its glare. After the light died down, we saw, to our relief, Arceus and his three Guardians, Palkia, Dialga and Giratina hovering in the air, looking bitterly at Apothes.
"Apothes…" the sound of Arceus' deep voice surrounded us. "…it has been too long…"
Apothes looked with contempt at the newly-arrived Legendaries, before replying to Arceus' greeting snidely. "Yes, it has, indeed…it's truly a pleasure to see you again…brother…"
(End of Chapter 16)
A/N: It's getting close…just three more chapters to go in this book! :D . I've already started to revise and tweak my plans for Book III, as well as the subsequent books up to Book VI.
Please leave your reviews. :)