CHAPTER 13

"Whoa." was all I could say at what was before us. The city was completely deserted. There wasn't any other Pokemon in sight. "They really did it...they got everyone in the whole nation to fight for them."

"Hey, what're those?" Scuttle said pointing to several lumps on the ground a few feet from us. We ran up to it and saw that it was a dead Butterfree.

"This one probably tried to resist." Shine said. "It's horrible."

"I know Shine. But we're fighting so that something like this will never happen again." I told her and she calmed down.

We ran through the empty city passing by more dead Pokemon. We tried to ignore them as we reached the deserted academy. We went over to the gate that led to the forest and found that it was closed.

"Let's try blasting it open." I said. "On the count of three. One...two..."

"Three!"

We fired out attacks at the same time. All of our attacks converged on a single spot on the gate and exploded. When the dust cleared, the gate was still standing.

"We didn't even dent it." Shine said.

"Alright, let's try again." I said and we readied ourselves. "One...two..."

BANG!

Before we could attack, there was a loud sound. It seemed to come from the other side of the gate. The sounds came more frequently and I identified it as a Close Combat attack. After a while, a single punch was delivered and the gates burst open. All of us got a look at who did the punching-a Gallade.

"Slash!" I yelled running up to him.

"Good to see that you are alright." Slash said to me and Shine. "I would have come sooner but I had to recover from the battle last night."

"That's alright. Thanks again for that." I said.

"Um Shade, who's this?" Berg asked. He and Scuttle were puzzled.

"I'll explain later." I said and all of us began to run through the forest.

"So what's going on Slash?" I asked as we ran.

"The situation has become worse." he said grimly.

"How much worse?" asked Shine.

"You know the plan of the Crimson Council?"

"Yeah."

"The Amber Council had the same idea."

Before any of us could react to the shocking news, we were forced to stop at the edge of the forest. There were hundreds of Pokemon before us and none of them seemed to notice us.

"How do we get through?" I asked. Slash decided on a direct approach.

"Everyone, get back!" he screamed at the Pokemon in front of us and they faced us. Slash put his hands together and charged up a Hyper Beam. Those who heard him backed off creating a pathway before us. We all ran through it.

Whispers were heard as we passed by. I caught a glimpse of Dahlia as we passed. She looked at me surprised at the group that accompanied me but I didn't have time to talk. As we ran I saw other Pokemon-children and the elderly who would surely be killed if a fight was brought out. Our target was before us- a group of Pokemon standing before the rest of the Crimson Fang.

"Crimson Council!" I screamed. They turned and glared at me.

"But how?" the Mightyena exclaimed.

"I've got friends." I said proudly. "Now what're you up too?"

"As you can see, we are asking the Amber Council for a surrender but they would not agree." the Rampardos replied.

I looked before him and gasped at what I saw. It was like a mirror image-there were hundreds of Amber Fang Pokemon and in front of them was the Amber Council-a Sceptile, Alakazam, Magmortar, Staraptor, Blastoise, Hippowdon, Electrivire, Aggron and Slaking.

"It seems that negotiation is out of the question." the Sceptile said.

"Agreed. It appears that only brute force is the answer." the Muk replied. Then, every single one of the plates was brought out. Before any of us could react, every single one of them fired an attack.

The attacks converged at the center creating a massive explosion. Screams went through the air as a dust cloud was formed. When it cleared, both councils were still standing but they looked exhausted.

"CHARGE!"

Without warning, both councils charged towards each other along with Pokemon from their respective sides. I just stood there in shock as there was immediately blood shed. Slash, Berg and Scuttle were in combat as I stood there.

"Shade!" Shine screamed fearfully. I turned and saw her dodging slashes from a Crimson Fang Shiftry. She ducked as the Shiftry slashed at her and I was able to knock it away with a Hyper Beam.

"Thanks for- look out!" Shine screamed and I jumped just before a Poison Sting came my way. I landed and looked for who fired it. The, I saw Shine's team.

"Rosy! Levi! Blaze! Terra!" Shine yelled at her teammates.

"Shine, get down!" Terra the Marowak said before he used Bonemerang on me which I had to duck.

"Wait, don't hurt him!" Shine said standing in front of me.

"But he's the one who captured you!" Rosy said.

"Yeah but he broke me out!" Shine said. "And...and I love him."

Shine's team looked surprised at this bit of news. "Is this true?" Rosy asked me.

"Yeah." I said.

"Well...I believe you." Rosy said.

"Now that that's taken care of, what's the plan Shade?" Shine asked me.

But I had a hard time thinking of a good plan. All around me, more and more Pokemon were getting killed. Most died during battle while others,including children, were begging for mercy before they were struck down. It was all so horrifying; there was only one plan I could think of.

"Slash! Berg! Scuttle!" I called. They appeared tired with a few injuries. "We have to find the two councils." was all I could think of.

"Let's go." Shine said and we began and the nine of us began running through the thicket of battle.

Eventually, we found them. Both councils were still fighting with rage in their eyes. They formed a space in the middle of all the other fights. Every now and then, an attack would be dodged and hit someone in the crowd.

"Stop!" I shouted with all my might. They did and looked at us. "That's enough, just stop the fighting!"

All of them continued to glare at us angrily. Then all of a sudden, they attacked us. All the other fighters stopped to watch the battle we were in. They formed a massive ring with us at the center.

We immediately had to scatter to avoid a Hydro Cannon fired by the Blastoise. Berg, Scuttle, Slash, Shine and her team became locked in battle. My opponents were the Kricketune from Crimson Fang and the Slaking from Amber Fang. At least these guys can work out their differences and work together.

I used Faint attack and reappeared behind the Slaking but he jumped before I could hit him. He used Focus Punch and I jumped back but the Kricketune slashed me from behind.

"Shade!" I heard Shine scream. She ran towards me but then had to dodge a Leaf Blade from the Amber Fang Sceptile. My two opponents grinned and me and the Slaking readied another Focus Punch but as he charged, he was knocked back by a blast of white energy. I turned and saw who attacked him.

"Slice! Chi!" I yelled to them. They were slightly hurt but still alive and well. "You're OK!"

"Of course! What made you think over fifty guards could stop us?" Slice said proudly.

The next moment, the Kricketune got hit by Slice's Night Slash and the Slaking Chi's Hi Jump Kick. They were knocked back and the three of us regrouped. Before we could attack again, Chi suddenly vanished from sight.

Panicking, Slice and I looked up and saw that the Staraptor from Amber Fang had picked Chi up with his talons. As she struggled, she was brought up higher and higher until she was thrown to the ground several feet from us.

"Chi!" Slice yelled as she fell. He ran after her and used Ice Beam on the ground and created a large ramp. Slice positioned himself at the base as Chi slid down it. She neared the end and was flung up a few feet until Slice caught her and held her bridal style.

"My hero." Chi said with a smile.

"You so owe me a date when this's over." Slice said smirking.

"Fair enough."

"Heads up!" I yelled at them as the Staraptor flew in again for another attack. Slice put Chi down and fired an Ice Beam and the frozen Staraptor hit the ground in front of them. Chi then used High Jump Kick and sent the Staraptor towards the Kricketune and slaking who recovered. The ice shattered and they were knocked down.

"Alright, let's go help the oth-" but I couldn't finish. The three of us were suddenly picked by what I thought was a Psychic attack. I looked around and saw Shine, her team, Slash and the rest of my team also floating. As we were placed at the enter of the circle, I caught a glimpse of the Alakazam who was responsible for what was happening to us.

"All of you are beginning to get on our nerves." the Alakazam spoke. "It is about time we end you all for good."

All of us struggled to break free but it was in vain. The two councils formed a ring around us(the Staraptor, Slaking and Kricketune had recovered) and began charging up their plate amplified attacks. We struggled even more and the attacks were now fully charged and ready to destroy us.

"ENOUGH!"

A loud thunderous voice was heard by everyone. The two councils stopped and looked to the sky where the voice seemed to come from. We did the same thing and everyone looked up.

Suddenly, the sky lit up as if a massive explosion took place. As we watched, we then saw several pink meteors fall from the sky. After several seconds of falling, each meteor struck a single member of both councils.

All of us were dropped onto the ground. All around us, the members of the two councils were screaming as they were engulfed in a pillar of light. There was a bright flash and they were gone. The plates hit the ground with a thud.

A long silence followed then, the sky began to thunder. We looked up and saw that the clouds had parted and they descended.

The Legendary Council.

They looked just like what my book described them. At the center of the council was Arceus.

"We have had enough." Arceus said. "The War of the Plates has gone on for too long."

"We have come here to end it once and for all." Deoxys said. "Now that both councils are gone, the war will finally end."

"Wait!" I shouted. "Why did you only wait until now to end the war? Why did you have to lets so many Pokemon die first?"

The Legendary council turned to me as did everyone else in the area. Mew said:"We have been waiting for you."

"Me?" I asked startled.

"Yes, we have been waiting for you." Groudon said. "You posses the ability to unite the two nations and lead them in peace and harmony. You are a true leader who would look out and care for those under you."

"So...I'm going to lead everyone?" I asked.

"Not just yet. There is...a test you must pass to prove your worth." Celebi said.

Before I could ask what kind of test it was, Deoxys landed in front of me. Looking at me, he said: "Fight me one on one. Defeat me and you will prove your worth."

He had determination in his eyes. I turned back to the faces of my team and they looked at me reassuringly. All it took for me to make my decision was a smile and a nod from Shine.

"Alright, I'll fight you." I told Deoxys.

"Excellent. Now...EN GARDE!"

He morphed into Attack Forme before charging at me.