The Z Adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Yusei: Can't believe I'm stuck on this. I'm not gonna flame Saint Danielle alright!? I mean she deserves it, but still!
Dante: Too bad. We're stuck here. Luckily, it's over in this chapter. Here we conclude The Z Adventure by revealing all secrets and showing Flare's end.
Yusei: Sorry readers, but we just lost interest in this story considering how dull Gen 6 was for us. We just didn't want to do Kalos anymore. Thankfully, this leads up to the Light Adventure, which is Ultra Sun and Moon. Mostly Moon.
Journal Entry 10: Life and Death
Calem exits Lysandre Labs in a hurry, knowing he needs to rush after learning about everything inside. Through all the exposition he can tell so much terrible things are going to go down; Lysandre's out of his mind if he intends to use that power on billions of innocent lives.
"Calem!" Zekrom lands in Luminose with Clemont and Bonnie. More people jump off of the dragon before he turns back, with them being the siblings Viola and Alexa, Korrina and Grant.
"Calem," says Korrina as she comes up to hug him. She embraces him for a bit, but then he pushes her back. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Lysandre escaped and turned on the weapon. We can still stop him if we destroy it," he says before looking around.
"Calem!" Everyone looks up to see Shauna, Tierno and Trevor flying on an Aerodactyl.
"Where's Serena?" asks Calem of his friends.
"She's in Geosenge Town," says Shauna, her eyes quelled with worry.
Calem sighs, also worried. Korrina notes his emotions and says, "We'll save her too, but right now we need to stop Team Flare."
The X protagonist turns to Hilbert, who says, "Am I really gonna have to carry you all?"
"No," he says, coming up with a plan. "Me, Shauna, Tierno and Trevor will go ahead. You wait on the sidelines and then get ready to destroy the machine. We'll provide a big enough distraction for you."
"Oh, I see what you're thinking."
"Here." Clemont goes over to Shauna handing her a device. "Use this incase you run into a puzzle. Considering what may happen, it's possible."
"Oh, thank you," she says with a small smile.
"The target is Geosenge Town, where the machine is. Team Flare will be waiting for us." Calem takes out a pokeball, and unleashes Acno. Climbing aboard him, X flies away with his dragon to Geosenge.
Following on Trevor's Aerodactyl, the trio go with Calem over to Geosenge Town. Calem looks back asking, "How did you guys know I was there?"
"There were these masked heroes who told us what was going on," replies Tierno, who hasn't said much since their reunion. "On our way to you they told us what Team Flare was really planning."
"Is that how you knew she would be there? Serena?"
"Yeah. They told us," speaks Trevor. "Said she was integral to their plan… could they be in cahoots?"
"I hope not…" Shauna mutters.
It does not take long until they reach Geosenge Town, and the uprooted glittery flower that is the doomsday weapon. The four young ones land in the midst of the destroyed town, rain pouring down upon them ominously. Calem says, "Guys, I'm going to the center first. You guys don't go in until I'm ready."
"Got it." The X protagonist heads towards the nearby Pokemon Center. Trevor watches him leave, before asking, "Does he seem more outspoken now?"
"I guess being out in the world has opened him up again," says Shauna with a smile. "Hopefully things can be better after this."
"Hey!" The trio jump in shock when Team Flare grunts gather around them. "You're not members of Team Flare! Get 'em!"
"Go!" As Team Flare sends out Liepards, Toxicroak, Scrafty and Golbats, Trevor chooses Raichu, Shauna Venusaur and Tierno Crawdaunt.
"Vine Whip!"
"Thunderbolt!"
"Crabhammer!" All three of their pokemon fight back ferociously. Their attack make their landing, effectively repelling the horde. A good deal of Flare's wild caught pokemon don't stand a chance against the tempered strength of raised ones.
Raichu uses another Thunderbolt against a Golbat, leaving a Liepard to sneak through and use Night Slash on her. Crawdaunt stands in the middle of a Toxicroak's strike, and retorts using a Bubblebeam. Venusaur gets repelled by Air Cutter from Golbats.
The battles continue for a long while. By the time Calem exits the pokemon center all of Flare has been pulverized by the combined might of his friends. His surprise is obvious. "Whoa…"
"Yeah, whoa!" Tierno says as he raises a fist. He is too tired to bust a move. "We...did it."
"So this is what it's like to battle trainers the way you and Serena do," says Trevor as he brushes the dirt off his clothes.
"Are you guys okay?" Calem asks as he approaches his friends.
"We did great," Shauna tells her as he reaches a hand out to the little girl. "We need to finish this."
Calem and Shauna head over to the shack, with him opening the door forcefully before going inside. They come to an elevator, and take it down to the basement. "Kind of like Lysandre's hideout."
Once they comes down to the main room the duo exit the elevator, coming to a room full of monitors and scientists. Team Flare grunts stand at the ready, giving them room to walk through. He walks up to the higher platform at the end which shows a window of the base of the weapon.
"The ultimate weapon has bloomed over Geosenge Town. Do you not find it beautiful?" questions Lysandre as he gestures to outside. He receives as an answer only the glares of Calem and his friends.
"Black told us you were working to save the world, as a member of Blue Flare. What happened?" speaks Calem.
"Even though resources, space, and energy on this planet are limited, the number of people and pokémon has increased to an unsustainable level. Whether it's money or resources, the ones who steal are the ones who win in this world. After all, when there is only one of something, it can't be shared. When something can't be shared, it will be fought over. And when something is fought over, some must survive without it. The only way to create a world where people live in beauty, a world without conflict or theft, is to reduce the number of living things."
"What about Pokemon?" asks Shauna sternly. "Won't they get caught up in this?"
"…" There's a brief pause by the orange leader. A single tear fall from his eye, shocking the little girl. "Pokémon... Shall no longer exist." This is shocking to them. "Pokémon are wonderful beings. Humans have worked with Pokémon, and we have helped each other flourish. But precisely because of that, they will inevitably become tools for war and theft!"
Calem frowns before glaring at Lysandre, unable to believe someone can be so selfcentered. But it won't matter in a few minutes. A wind pressure hits the base, causing everyone to stop and look around. "It's Hilbert."
"Hilda's brother?" Lysandre speaks.
"He's gonna destroy your weapon before you get to use it." He points upward.
Outside as Zekrom, Hilbert flies in towards the machine of death. He summons enough electricity for a Lightning Strike attack, aiming for the blossom machine. "I'll destroy this with one blow!"
Before he could, a beam of light shoots out from behind him piercing straight through his midsection. Dead eyes form on the black dragon, before it falls forward to the ground. A pillar of sand and dirt explodes upward from the impact.
Inside, Calem has heard the impact, and looks back worried. "What happened?"
"It would appear someone is looking out for me," says the leader of Flare.
"Oh no!" Shauna holds her hands to her cheeks. "Hilbert!"
"Dang it…"
"Now, it is time for you to work alongside my ambitions."
"What are talking about?" Calem asks him confused.
"Your friend is waiting for you, Serena." He points down the hall.
Nervous, Calem thinks something is up with what he said. He turns around down the hall hesitating, believing this to be a trap. "Serena…" Going with it, he rushes in heading for the stairs.
Shauna follows him down, as they head further and further and further into the earth. Passing by the white walls, they soon stop before a red door with the Flare symbol on it. "This must be it," says Shauna as she touches the door.
She takes out the device Clemont gave her, and places it on the door. It opens up and releases an electromagnetic pulse. This causes the door to unlock. "YAY! It worked!" The device then breaks apart, smoking. "And it's broken."
"Well, at least it worked," Calem says with a half smile. The two then work together, opening the heavy door with their own two hands. Once it's wide open, what they see cannot be believed.
Inside this dimly lit room of purple exist two canisters. The one on the trainers' left has cobalt tubes stretching up from the top as squid tentacles while the other is glowing crimson. That one's tubes are actually glowing, siphoning energy from the container. On top of the red is a black cocoon of sorts, a chrysalis beaming light from within. The other is a white tree, dead wood rooted into an empty, metal, feeding tube.
"This must be the deepest part of their headquarters," speaks Shauna as she looks around. Spotting the chrysalis on top of the red canister she asks, "Is that the Legendary Pokemon they've been seeking?"
"That is none of your business," speaks a woman as she comes into the light. Along with several other of Team Flare's admins, they crowd the two. The admin speaks, "That machine has taken 90 percent of her essence, and we're not going to let you get in the way."
"Her?" Calem looks up at the canister's cocoon, and a face become visible in some form of projection. "Serena!" he shouts.
"Serena?!"
"Serena Yvette contains the power of Yveltal, the Death Pokemon." The Flare Admin with his bald skull points to her. "We don't know how, but theory suggests that she came into contact with it some time before its rebirth and passed its energy into her. Once this machine finishes she will die in the process and the weapon will be charged."
"Serena…" Calem then begins to realize just what's going on now. She has been distant because she was a vessel for Yveltal's power.
A female admin takes out a whip, wrapping it around Calem. "We're gonna do the same to you too!"
"Calem!"
"What's this about?!" asks the X protagonist.
"Don't play dumb; you hold Xerneas' power inside of you as well." He flinches at that accusation, a little surprised actually.
'Is that where it came from, this immortal healing?' He looks to the tree deep in thought, a memory resurfacing from the depths of his soul.
"Now, return that power to Xerneas, so that it may finally awaken Calem Xavier!" The other admins hold back Shauna, preventing her from sending out Pokemon to help.
"No! Calem, run!" she shouts, trying to break free from their grasp. As shocked as she is with the wham thrown at her, she's more worried about him.
"No Shauna, it's okay. It's time I returned to where I belong." Calem calmly goes over to the canister, providing little resistance. He approaches the canister, reaching his hand up to the tree.
The dead wood twitches. Blue light radiates from him, and flows from his body into Xerneas. As all look in awe, the small one headbutts that guy's jaw. Shauna rushes over to save him, but it's too late. All of his power enters the tree, his aura now a part of it.
At the same time, a flash explodes from his Pokeball, and Nanami jumps out throwing Water Shuriken. The tubes on the canisters cut away, and the whip splits. Free Calem drops to a knee, drained of his very life. "It's okay Shauna. It's all coming back to me."
She stops in front of him. "What is?" The tree above raises, transforming into its true form. The two gaze in wonder at the beautiful blue Pokemon. Its X eyes cross down upon Shauna and then Calem, giving a slight nod. It moves towards the crimson canister and with its horns slices through the tubes and containment.
The energy going inside of the cocoon ceases, and the chrysalis gains blood cracks. It then explodes, turning into the crimson Y of death; Yveltal. The Legendary Pokemon shrieks as its Y eyes narrow down upon the canister, one talon enough to claw through and break out its prisoner; Serena lies limp in its grasp before it lays her form on the floor.
The very presence of the representatives of life and death scare away the remaining members of Team Flare. The cervine pokemon comes down before Calem, speaking: "Thank you for your sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Shauna asks looking up at Xerneas and then Calem. Serena soon begins to awaken.
"In order to save Xerneas and stop Flare, I let it take back the immortality it gave me." The two women look confused, and quickly ask why it gave him immortality in the first place. "Because I died."
"What?!" Serena gasps, crawling over to the X protagonist.
"When I met Xerneas as a child, I ended up falling to my death. And, it revived me." He looks at his hand, touching the back of his head that now bleeds.
"Thank you for your sacrifice, once again." Xerneas places its head onto his, as a gesture of gratitude. Its x eyes then glance at his backpack. "Do not worry. It shall not be in vain."
"I'm leaving," Yveltal speaks looking down upon Serena. "You took hold of my power when you were young didn't you? That's why they captured you and brought you here."
"Your power…I took so much life away because of your-" She gasps into a pause, unable to continue for a brief moment. "Because of your power."
"So that's why you kept away from me…" Calem realizes looking to her childhood friend.
"Because my power is leaving you, your body is starting to lose its functions. Xerneas can heal that, but…" Yveltal turns to Calem. "She cannot save you and him before reverting to her hibernation state."
The Y bird then flies away, turning into a phantom to pass through the ceiling. Ignoring it, Calem drops down to Serena, hoping to help her up. "Serena… I'm sorry this had to happen…"
"It's not your fault…" She hugs him with all that's left of her strength.
Shauna begins to turn teary seeing her two friends losing themselves. "No! This can't be happening! X! Y!"
"So, the two of you even freed Xerneas and Yveltal… What a startling development…" In steps Lysandre, angered at what has happened. He wears red tinted shades with a mechanical gauntlet around his right arm. He also has three bee fans flying above him attached to wires on his back. "To think a Legendary Pokemon would need the help of a human!"
Calem and Serena stay together glaring at the leader of Flare. Shauna moves to protect them as Serena barks, "What now? Xerneas and Yveltal are free. You have no machine now."
"Not true. Their freedom allotted them to take back some of their energy, but there is still enough from both to decimate Kalos, and just enough to make me immortal and start over." He raises his gauntlet to his chest pressing buttons. Up above, the machine activates.
"Lysandre, you don't have to do this…" speaks Calem in a last ditch effort to reason with him.
"Be quiet. You're all fighting to protect the tomorrow you and your loved ones care about, but what will that tomorrow bring? A today even worse than it?!"
"Lysandre," Serena begins, turning her eyes to the tall man, "you're right; people are selfish and will do things to hurt other people and Pokemon, but there are also people who will stand by and stop those people. If you take away the freedom of others just because you think it's for the best, you're no better than them. You have to have faith in others."
"If that were possible, all wars would have ended long ago!" he gripes out of frustration. His eyes glaze over in a haze before he begins to laugh. "I can only see one future! One where selfish, foolish humans think about nothing other than themselves and steal more and more from one another... It's a tragic future! And I'm going to correct it all right now."
Before all could take place, a beam of light pierces the top of the ceiling, slicing through and erasing everything in its path. Like punishment from heaven, it even pierces through Lysandre, turning him and ambitions into nothing.
Outside At That Moment…
"Hilbert!" shouts Reshiram as she flies down to reach her black other. Spotting him reverting to normal, the skies turn dark as she lands becoming Hilda. She lifts up her brother on her shoulder running away. "Don't worry. I'll get you home…" She gripes at what he did. "I'm sorry I brought you to clean up my mess."
The darkness comes in closer, blinding her and all in Geosenge from any light. Even the light empowered from the machine disappears. She raises her hand to summon blue fire, but she can't see her flames either. "What the? What kind of power is this?"
Color finally returns, rising as a star above the machine. The light compresses, and like a satellite cannon fires down upon the machine. As if an egg to a lightsaber it melts in the most horrendous of ways before it explodes. The light then returns, leaving no recourse on what did that.
Down below, Calem and Serena witness the death of Lysandre, and the entire hideout begins to crumble. Shauna, while still traumatized by what she saw, still wishes to escape with her life. However… "X… Y…"
"Shauna, please go," Serena tells her. "Regardless of what happens to either of us, you can still live from this. Now go, before only one of us survives."
Reluctant, she runs off holding her teary eyes. "There is enough energy inside the canister to give one of you the immortality to survive. Do what you need." The X Pokemon then makes off, each step producing life from its feet.
"Then, I can still save you." Calem looks over at the blue canister. He carries her over, who remains still unable to move her legs.
"Calem, if you do this, you will die."
"It's okay. I've lived long enough on borrowed time…" He comes closer, and grabs a sole wire still connected to the canister. "Mom, I'm sorry. I guess I won't be able to buy a luxurious home for you like I wanted."
The X protagonist flinches when he hears the sound of a pokeball opening. He turns around quickly and spots Talonburn who strikes him in the gut. The blow knocks out what little life he has left, and he falls unconscious. Serena smiles solemnly as Talonburn brings Calem over to her with the wire. She takes it in her hand, and stabs him with it.
The energy of life enters his system, restoring the wound that reopened. "Talonburn, once you get Calem out of here… you no longer have to worry about me…" Talonburn weakly frowns, and Serena reaches out to her head. They touch foreheads briefly, no longer needing words to explain further.
Taking both Serena and Calem in her arms, the blaziken rushes off to safety. As debris after debris come down on them, Talonburn takes to the stairs what with everyone else in Flare long since escaping. Coming across a chasm, she leaps over as a support beam knocks Serena out of her talons. She looks up in shock and reaches for Calem, grabbing his bag and ripping it open. Everything inside falls down the chasm with her, as everything falls down on her following.
Saddened, Talonburn regrettably heads forward to escape, following her master's last request to save Calem.
Outside, Shauna, Hilda and the others watch as the machine collapses over the hideout. Just as the last exit is piled over, Talonburn jumps up from an opening landing before everyone. Shauna looks up at her and sees Calem is safe, gasping when she realizes Serena is nowhere to be found. "Where's Serena?"
Talonburn looks downward, unable to answer her obviously. Calem shifts in the pokemon's grasp.
…
"We are here in Geosenge Town in the aftermath of Team Flare's attempt at destroying Kalos. Interpol has captured many of their surviving agents, and continues searching for the rest alongside Blue Flare. The casualties are racking up sitting at about-"
…
It's been two days since the events at Geosenge. Trevor, Tierno and Shauna return home to reassure their parents of their safety what with their involvement. Hilda works alongside the International Police in finding remnants of Team Flare as stated above. And Calem?
He sits atop the roof of his home staring at the sky. Deep in thought, he holds up a photo of him with Serena. "Serena…" He wipes away the dried tear marks on his face, closing his eyes as he remembers what he learned after waking up. "You gave me the chance to live again at the cost of your own, and now I'll never see you. You really loved me didn't you?"
"Calem." Korrina down below calls out to him. Groaning, he rolls over and lands before her. "Calem, I'm sorry about what happened. Had I been there-"
"It's okay."
"No, it's not! You lost someone you cared so much about, and you're trying to hide it!" She takes his hand as she speaks. "I care about you too, and I don't want you to suffer like this. I can't replace her, but I can try and fill that hole in your heart."
Calem removes his hand, and then hugs her. "You don't have to make me feel better."
"But I want to…"
"I know you do… I want to go through this myself before I decide to open up again." He releases her and takes off.
Korrina sighs. "Why is love so troublesome?"
On his way out of Vaniville Town, Calem stops when he spots a man towering above him. Recognizing him as A-Z, he takes a minute to stop before him. "Hello..."
"You again." Calem pockets his picture and asks, "Why? Why did you keep that key? Why?"
"In case, I decide to end it," he replies, looking up at the skies. "I've lived for thousands of years, and each day contemplate using that machine again on myself."
"Why? If you hated living that long why did you go through with it?"
He places a hand on the necklace where the key was. "A long time ago. A very long time ago, the man made an ultimate weapon. Using it required the life force of many Pokémon… The Pokémon granted eternal life learned this, and left the man's side. The man was surprised and sad. He had revived it so they could be together…" A piece of his heart enters Calem's from those words. "Day after day passed, but they were never to meet. Eventually, he became a mere shell of a man. A man condemned to wander forever by the light of the weapon…and a Pokémon that also wanders eternally…"
"...You still miss it don't you?" asks Calem, and A-Z nods. "Why did you tell me this?"
"I don't know..." He pats his shoulder. "I wanted to save you, from sharing the same fate as me. You've been granted eternal life, and from what I can tell you've been hiding from the world because of it. It's too late for me to move on, but you can still find purpose in life. Make the most of it, and don't follow a hope that may not come back."
The gray statue of a man walks away, his advice left behind in Calem's heart. Korrina comes up just as he does, asking if he's okay. "Korrina, he's right."
"Who, him? What did he say?"
"I'm going to continue my journey, for her. I don't know if I'm immortal again, but I want to make the most of this life she saved. I hid from the world the last time I learned of this power, so now I'm going to make good with this power. That way, I won't end up like him..." He then sighs. "But it's gonna be hard. I not sure if I can change that easily."
"Let's just go." Korrina takes his hand and takes him forward. The duo move towards their new lives, worried if they can truly leave the past behind.
…
In the midst of Geosenge Town, a black and green dog pokemon watches the wreckage. It nods its head before taking off, heading for the wide and open seas.
Yusei: And that ends this.
Illarion: We thank you for your patronage and patience. This isn't the ending we first wanted, but it is the one closest. Not everything can be solved with a Pokemon battle.
Kei: Hey guys. What do you expect out of the next story, Light Adventure?
Dante: M rated material! I wanna see how different you can make the culture in Alola in regards to relationships!
Yusei: Dante, close your mouth. Your perversion is leaking. I wouldn't be opposed to Lily ending up with Moon though. Don't even support yuri and yet I like it. Merry Christmas people!
Dante: Happy Holidays.
Yusei: I'll melt you!