Pokemon Adventures: Where Legends Cross
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon Adventures/Special.
There's gonna be a lot of POV changes in this chapter, so I suggest you stay sharp. And Black's match with the Elite Four is finished here... and what else? Read on! Oh, and by the way, it is revealed in this chapter (early on) why I've depicted Giovanni in such an OOC way. Whoop! XD
Began writing on June 19th, 2011. Currently drafting Chapter 35, the last chapter of arc 1. As soon as I'm done I'll be moving on to arc 2...
Chapter 19. Vs. Elite Four (Part 2): Kings and Vagabonds
- Victory Road Entrance -
"Muk, use Gunk Shot!" Archer ordered quickly, not even bothering to look around in disbelief anymore as his minions fell around him in clusters, scores of them being knocked away by a single blow from their powerful obstacle. Even his Muk's poison attack bounced off its finlike wings harmlessly, which then quickly shot forwards to knock the Sludge Pokemon out with a well-aimed Dragon Claw attack.
"Garchomp, collapse the ridge."
The entire rocky grond in front of the entrance groaned and split open before the Pokemon's blow, before erupting in a massive Earthquake attack that threw nearly all the Team Rocket grints off the ledge and sending them tumbling before the aghast Archer's feet.
"Who are you to interfere in our path to meet Giovanni?" He snarled angrily at the tall woman who was blocking the cavern entrance with her Garchomp, her hardened expression betraying no mercy as she effortlessly repelled an entire division on her own.
"I have friends that just went into this cavern, and I am oblieged to make their journey safer," she replied cooly, again signalling Garchomp forward with a wave of her hand. "I am Cynthia, Champion of Sinnoh... You may not pass."
- Victory Road Exit -
"Fire Blast!"
A white-hot orb of flame smashed into the Weezing, exploding into a star-shaped mark of fire as the impact blasted the Poison Gas Pokemon into Giovanni, sending him into a nearby tree with a pained "Oof!"
"Good job," Maroon quietly congratulated Sear on the small victory before walking over to the fallen villian. "What's wrong? I thought the renowned Boss of Team Rocket would be at least several times stronger than that."
"And what would you know about Team Rocket, huh?" Growled Giovanni as he achingly pushed the defeated Weezing off himself.
"Oh, I know plenty," replied the cloaked man, his voice abruptly gaining a harsh edge as he looked down at him. "Must I burn that mask off your face to make you understand - that you will fool no one with that disguise?"
"Tch," muttered 'Giovanni' in resignation, giving in under his heated pressure. Bringing a hand up to his face he slowly pulled it downwards, peeling his disguising Ditto off to reveal a thin, middle-aged face with purple hair and beard and a pair of sly, narrow eyes. "And after my years of practicing too. How did you know?"
"Even to be a Boss in an organization requires traits that exceeds the likes of you," Maroon growled at the man's true face, one hand slowly rising to his own hood. "Giovanni would be twice a man than you, Rocket Executive Petrel... and you will never get to realize why."
- Chamber of Spook -
"Scrafty, use Poison Jab!" Grimsley ordered the Hoodlum Pokemon, who quickly rushed at Poka with its fists glowing violet with venom.
"Poka, use Bulk Up!" Black countered, without taking his eyes off Tula herding Reuniclus away from the Emboar with Electroweb. Sparing a short glance at Poka, he grinned slightly as the Mega Fire Pig Pokemon hurriedly drew in a deep breath to expand his muscles, which contracted around the surprised Scrafty's fist and trapped its arm under itself.
"Now use Hammer Arm! Sharp, press on!" Black went on swiftly, throwing an additional command at the Bisharp as he noticed Shauntal's Golurk trying to inch closer to Poka.
"Reuniclus, use Focus Blast!" Caitlin's command suddenly rang out. Instictively fixing his gaze on Tula and Sharp, Black's momentary confusion as to the attack's destination was solved a little too late when it struck Poka squarely in the shoulder, surprising him enough for the Scrafty to pull back and escape before the Hammer Arm came crashing down on his head.
This stalemate won't last forever, thought Black grimly as he took an overview at each of his Pokemon fighing their respective opponent. Despite being put under type disadvantages, all the Elite Four were coping rather well, at times almost breaking out of their locked opponents to attack more suitable members. As ideal as the current match-up was for him, it wasn't going to last.
That's why he decided to break it first.
"War, use Sky Drop!" Black commanded abruptly. At once the Braviary grabbved his foe - Marshal's Sawk - by the shoulder, lifting the startled opponent high into the air.
"Sawk, kick yourself free!" Marshal yelled quickly.
"War, let go! Poka, use Superpower!" Black barked out, knowing that they would understand his plan. They did; not only did War let go of the struggling Sawk, he threw it at Grimsley's Scrafty as it sparred with Poka in a fierce melee right below. As soon as War's talon unhooked from the Karate Pokemon's arms the Emboar rushed headlong at his opponent, his entire body emanating a crimson glow as he prepared to launch his most powerful Fightng move.
"Scrafty, dodge it!" Grimsley cried out hurriedly, but it was too late; the Superpower struck at the same moment Sawk crashed into the Hoodlum Pokemon, blasting them well over twenty feet across the stadium and effectively knocking them both out.
"Poka, War, surround the rest!" Black continued to push on, sparing no time for Grimsley and Marshal to even react to their loss. Quick as a flash War and Poka shifted theyr positions to face Golurk and Reuniclus, Tula and Sharp joining them as they drove them against Tula's Electrowebs.
"Checkmate," stated Black confidently.
"This... is a surprising turn of event, I'll admit," said Shauntal, a slightly-startled smile on her face. "Four on two. I never thought I'd have to start writing the epilogue this soon, whatever time we might lack."
"You're good at this, Black, better than I expected," said Caitlin, smiling in earnest as well. "I'm glad to meet someone like you in battle, someone that's capable of such a feat. It's just too bad fortune didn't smile upon you on that one."
"What?" Black asked, taken aback by her unexpected words.
"Sawk, Close Combat!"
"Sharp, use Double Team!" Black yelled instictively, but again it was too late; before he could so much as turn around a fierce flurry of punches and kicks repeatedly struck the Bisharp from all sides, and by the time War managed to send the Karate Pokemon back with a poorly-aimed Air Slash the Sharp Sword Pokemon was already flat on the ground.
"Reuniclus, use Psychic!" Among his shock Black almost missed Caitlin's command.
"Tula, use ElecBall!" He shouted hurriedly as he saw the Multiplying Pokemon focus its gaze upon Poka with its small eyes beginning to glow red. Tula launched a desperate blast of electricity at the Reuniclus, hoping at least to deflect the powerful psychic attack from hitting Poka.
"Golurk," the Automaton Pokemon suddenly lumbered its way in front of Caitlin's Pokemon at Shauntal's quiet command, allowing the elecBall to strike its earthen armor and pass harmlessly into the ground. With Tula's threat gone, the Reuniclus was left free to launch its Psychic, striking and bringing Poka down to his knees with a powerful blast.
"I don't think you would've forgotten that my Sawk's ability is Sturdy," said Marshal as he watched his partner panting in front of him, looking more dead than alive. "I guess it was a mismatch of timing... but then again, those kind of small mistakes are going to cost you your victory, son. Keep that in mind."
Black could have slapped himself; how could he not have known? The Sky Drop's impact and the Superpower attack must have hit the Sawk simultaneously, activating the Sturdy ability and enabled it to survive the otherwise fatal blow.
"Well, well," said Grimsley, for some reason not losing his smile despite his own defeat. "For a moment I really thought it had become two on four, but now it's starting to look like a Triple Battle, eh?"
Too bad none of them knew his backup plan.
"I can fix that," said Black with a confident grin, despite a pang of guilt pricking his heart as he recalled Sharp to his Ball. "Let's avenge him, guys! War, Quick Attack! Poka, Flare Blitz! Tula, use Signal Beam!"
Quick as a flash War dove at the half-dead Sawk, finishing off the surprised Pokemon with the weak attack before it could cause more mayhem. Shauntal's Golurk lounged at Tula readying a Shadow Punch with a fist of iron, only to have a flared-up Poka slam into it from the side and knocking the Automaton Pokemon ten feet away. That left room for Tula to fire a powerful multicolored beam of energy at Caitlin's Reuniclus, who barely managed to defend itself with its thick puppet arms.
"Golurk, Shadow Punch!" Shauntal ordered quickly.
"Poka, Bulk Up!" Black followed up, allowing the Emboar to take another rock-hard punch from the golem, putting his next plan into motion. "Alright, use Flare Blitz again! War, Tula, cover!"
"Shauntal, watch out for the Blaze! Reuniclus, use Psychic!" Caitlin cried out hurriedly, noticing that the activated Blaze ability had gotten Poka literally burning up, his eyes glowing scarlet and his already-bulky body engulfed in a crimson inferno.
"Golurk, use Earthquake!" Shauntal exclaimed as the Emboar dodged the Psychic and began charging at her Pokemon with a ferocious roar with War flying close above. With one knee still on the ground the Golurk unhesitatingly slammed its huge fists down on the floor, the resulting shockwave literally tearing it apart as it travelled towards Black's vanguard.
"Poka, jump!" Black bellowed. Just before the Earthquake struck him the Emboar leaped up into the air with all his might, quickly grabbing War's talons with both hands as their opponents' attacks landed right below them, literally devastating the spot.
"What the - ?" Marshal gasped in astonishment, looking up at the colossal Pokemon - covered in flames too! - being carried effortlessly by the Braviary into the sky aboce their remaining opponents' heads.
"Reuniclus, Thunder!" Caitlin yelled. The Multiplying Pokemon eyes glowed yellow as it brought its 'hands' together for a loud clap. The next moment a giant bolt of lightning materialized on the celing, ready to strike down the loaded War from above.
"Tula!" Black called out to the Galvantula, who gave an answering chitter before leaping out of its hiding place: from behind War's back.
"It was riding - ?" Caitlin's surprised remark was cut short as the Thunder fell straight onto Tula, overloading the Elespider Pokemon with electricity as he dropped back onto the ground with a soft plop, saving War and Poka in the process.
"Let's show'em our teamwork, guys!" Black shouted, his fists tightening in vigor as the match drew into a climax. "Poka, use Flare Blitz! War, Brave Bird! Tula, back them up with ElecBall!"
With a fierce screech War flung Poka at the Reuniclus with full force before going into a screaming power dive himself, aiming at the Golurk. Tula also shot forward from below them, firing a rapidly-spinning ball of lightning at Reuniclus.
"Reuniclus, use Psychic!" Caitlin cried out desperately. Taking aim at the fierce ball of fire headed for it, the Multiplying Pokemon swiftly launched a devastating blast of energy at Poka.
"Poka, War, switch target!" Black yelled. At once War changed course as he lounged at the surprised Reuniclus, while Poka curled himself into a ball and used Rollout to swerve out of the Psychic's way and continuing to fall - except this time towards the Golurk.
"Look out!" The Elite Four cried simultaneously as the Flare Blitz, Brave Bird and ElecBall attacks struck at the same time, resulting in a giant explosion that quickly covered the area in a fierce duststorm.
"Whoa!" Black exclaimed as a great burst of wind swept over him, nearly taking off his hat. "War, clear out the dust, please!" He called out, hoping that the Braviary had enough strength left to do so.
A weary caw sounded from within the field of dust, followed by a powerful gust that quickly dissipated the heavy cloud. Hurriedly running into the middle of the half-destroyed stadium, Black was first greeted by Tula, who looked rather energetic despite the scorches it received from absorbing all the Thunder. Next came War, looking half-dead but satisfied. Finally, the dust cleared completely away to reveal Poka, who was panting in exhaustion as he leaned on the passed out forms of Golurk and Reuniclus.
That rang the bell in his head.
"GUYS, WE DID IT!" Black shouted loudly, rushing at Poka to gine the Emboar a bear hug (who passionately returned the favor) as War and Tula also gathered around him in a tight embrace. Even Musha, the only one to not participate in the battle, cooed happily from within its Poke Ball.
"Well, well, who would've known?" Grimsley's voice reached Black's ears among the joyful cheers of his Pokemon. "You actually beat all of us in a single combat! And how long did it take, half an hour?"
"And thus the tale ends in our defeat," sighed Shauntal without resignation, apologetically stroking her Golurk's armor. "But I'll remember this as one of the best story I've ever lived through; your battling skills and the bond between your Pokemon was... it was beyond words."
"Ha! Now I know why my Master has put such faith in you," laughed Marshal heartily as he walked over to Black and shook hands with him. "I'm still amazed by how your Pokemon could fight so selflessly, defending each other at the risk of their own safety."
"It's because they all have faith in each other - and in their Trainer as well," Caitlin answered with a genuine smile. "Thank you for the great battle, Black. You are truly worthy of the title of a hero. Come, let me heal your Pokemon before you can proceed to the Champion's room."
"Thank you," Black replied modestly as the young woman walked over to his Pokemon.
"Hm, before we can start worrying about patching up Auntie's room," said Grimsley as he looked around at the half-pulverized chamber. "I wonder if that N person has finished his fight with the geezer yet?"
- The Champion's Hall -
"Volcarona, use Bug Buzz!" Alder's yell was quickly lost under the frantic flap of his partner's wings, generating a very unpleasant screeching noise that forced N to cover his ears.
"You are sorely mistaken if you believe you can stop me with noise," Zekrom's voice rang out, saving N from going mad from the supersonic shriek. The Deep Black Pokemon didn't seem at all phased by the Volcarona's attacks; if anything, he was enjoying this. More so than his previous four opponents.
"Oh, my apologies; I wasn't aiming at you," Alder pointed out calmly, cracking a wry smile despite the dire condition both him and his Pokemon was in.
Cra - ack!
"My Lord, the celing!" N cried out a warning, in spite of knowing that the deity couldn't have missed the sound of the stone celing fracturing from the Sun Pokemon's attack. With a loud groan, several enormous boulders broke off from the roof and hurtled down at the Deep Black Pokemon, who lazily looked up to notice them in time.
"Hm," he grunted, sounding impressed. "Magnet Rise." (#1)
N involuntarily took a step back as a white-hot field of electromagnetic power flashed into existence around Zekrom's feet, sending multitudes of thunderbolts up in the air and striking the incoming boulders, suspending them several feet above his head.
"Heat Wave!" Alder commanded. Letting out a fierce shriek the Volcarona flapped its wings once, sending a thick wave of hot air at the pinned boulders. Upon receiving the Fire-type attack, to N's surprise the large stones superheated instantly, burning away what little magnetism they possessed and quickly melting into lava as they resumed their falling again.
"N, stand back," Zekrom calmly warned N, who obeyed without question. Upon having the cascading magma a single foot from his head the Deep Black Pokemon roared: "Discharge!"
A brilliant, pure-white flash emanated from the black-armored deity, causing N to shut his eyes and shield his face as incredible light and heat flared up in the entire chamber for a heartbeat. After that heartbeat was over N dared to open his eyes. The sight that greeted him was nothing short of incredible.
Almost half the chamber was thoroughly scorched black, with only two small patches where himself and Alder stood having been spared. There was no trace at all of the falling lava, except a cloud of stram above Zekrom's head where they had been vaporized. N was slightly singed in the clothes, but he had nothing on the badly burnt - and paralyzed - Volcarona that was weakly hovering above the blacken floor.
"You fight well, human," Zekrom told Alder, who was cradling a burnt arm as he looked at the deity with shock in his otherwise fearless eyes. "Well-deserving of the title of Champion. But I have a duty to perform on the man who stands beside me, and you will not stop us today."
N looked at the Deep Black Pokemon in awe. Never in even his wildest imagination he had believed the deity could be so powerful. It was plain to see that Zekrom wasn't even fighting seriously; he would keep making Alder's Pokemon attack him, one by one, judging their capabilities and their loyalty to their Trainer before defeating them with a single blow. Now Alder's last Pokemon hovered battered in front of them, victory only inches ahead.
Would Black have made it here by now? N wondered. Who would have he brought with him?
"I will not try and judge your decision, mighty one," said Alder politely as he looked apologetically at his Volcarona. "No matter what your ideal is, as Champion of Unova it is my duty to give the best battle possible to my challenger... and be prepared to name a new one when my time is at last over. And believe me, I have tried."
"And you have succeeded," assured Zekrom. Turning to the Volcarona he added: "I am also impressed by you and your comrades' devotion to your Trainer. It appears that I have indeed been misunderstanding much."
My honors... N heard the Sun Pokemon whisper as he began yet another Quiver Dance. The match wasn't over yet.
"It has been a good fight," Zekrom acknowledged in a satisfied voice, his tail engine beginning to spin wildly for the first time since N met him. "As reward I shall grant you the most honorable defeat I can offer you without destroying the entire room: an art that is open to me only, one that I refuse to reveal to an unworthy opponent."
N suppressed a gasp of wonder as pulses of wild lightning began dancing across Zekrom's ebony armor, gathering at his plated arms to form a crackling blue-white web of electricity around his claws.
"... Fusion Bolt!"
"N!" Black yelled as he rushed at the door that led into the Champion's room, only to halt in surprise as a roar that obviously belonged to Zekrom echoed throughout the corridor, followed by a devastating blast of something that blew the iron door straight off its hinges and forcing Black to duck and avoid the sudden current of wild electricity that pricked his back painfully as it escaped Alder's chamber. Getting to his feet and fearing for the worst, he quickly raced into the Champion's 'chamber', only to stop again in utmost shock.
Whatever Zekrom had done had completely blasted off the celing of the room and collapsed a good part of the walls, exposing the 'hall' to the gray, cloudy outdoors behind the Pokemon League Building. The parts that weren't destroyed were scorched through into charcoal. Zekrom and N, looking mostly unharmed except for some singed clothes, stood in the middle of the chamber, looking down upon a badly-burnt Alder as he carefully scooped up his near-dead Volcarona in his arms, the fear of losing yet another Pokemon finally revealed in his expression.
Even though he had more or less expected N to triumph, the sight of total devastation was so shocking to Black that he could barely react to the Light Stone beginning to pulse urgently in his hand again.
As it was, Zekrom was the first to notice the new prescence in their midst.
"N," the deity rumbled, his cromson eyes gleaming. "They have come."
The new Champion snapped his head toward his direction, his eyes widening in surprise for a heartbeat before settling down into a calmer expression.
"Black," he said quietly, a slight smile forming on his face as he slowly turned to his would-be-challenger. "I didn't realize you would catch up so quickly. You truly are an exceptional Trainer. I have been expecting this to happen one day."
"Then you must know what I came to do," said Black, readying Poka's Poke Ball behind his back.
"Of course," said N, his smile widening. "But not here, not now. As the new Champion of Unova it is my duty to host you, my challenger, a proper Pokemon battle in style... and this is hardly the right place."
"Where, then?" Demanded Black, only to flinch in surprise as the ground suddenly began to shudder.
"There, in my castle," said N as he pointed behind his back, looking unfazed by the abrupt quake. As Black looked up to see where N was pointing at, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he saw an enormous area of ground directly behind N and Zekrom groan and split, making way for a giant structure to rise from the earth as if being raised by a supernatural power.
"Impossible..." muttered Alder as he looked up at the colossal castle in shock. "Team Plasma built their fortress right under our nose?"
"It was on Ghetsis's insistence," said N nonchalantly as the castle revealed itself completely, a large section of it on the top neatly attatching itself to the Pokemon League Building as if it was meant to be there all along. "I welcome you to my palace, Black. It is at the throne room where I shall face you."
As if that was final the green-haired Trainer turned his back on Black and walked up to the castle gate behind him, which swung forward to let him inside. Zekrom turned to follow him in as well, but not before glancing back at Black with his great crimson eyes narrowed - or rather, he was staring at the white object he held in one hand.
"Hatchling," he growled. "N believes that you are a hero that can match him in wisdom, courage and love. I shall expect you to honor me with a chance to judge that."
With that, the wooden gate closed over his face.
Hell yeah, Zekrom you kickass XD
#1. I don't suppose Zekrom can actually learn Magnet Rise, but I made him do this to, er, make him look cool?
When Giovanni first debuted in Chapter 6, I told you there was a reason he was OOC, right? Well, now you know why. Hello there, Petrel. Hope you make it out of Maroon's wrath alive XD Now the real question is: what about the real Giovanni? Well, no doubt we'll be hearing about him... sooner or later. He's just so cool for me to leave him out.
Ventus Astrum, I can't really tell you if Yellow will make a conversation with N, because if I say yes I'll be saying they got to meet each other in the first place! XD
Well, in the next chapter we stick onto Black as N's Castle is revealed in front of him. Now Spoiler: Many new characters will appear in Chapter 20, so stay tuned!
Writing completed on June 23rd, 2011. This is Yowl of Time, out.