Chapter 30: Lloyds Guardian
Lloyd woke up feeling cold and weak. He didn't remember much of what happened during Shadows take over, only what happened at the end. All of them, Isaac, Regal and himself all were buried within Echo Cavern.
Then why am I not buried?
"Lloyd..." A voice called out to him.
He looked up, and saw a strange green pokemon above him, which was holding up the unstable rock above, preventing it from falling and crushing them. He couldn't believe it at first, but he was looking right at the legendary pokemon, Celebi.
Lloyd tried to ask, "Who are you?", but what actually came out was a familiar, impossible to understand baby talk. He took a moment to look at his paws, and saw that he had transformed once again into a Pichu.
Ugh... Not again...
"Do not worry Lloyd, let the words form in your mind and I will hear them, like always."
Wait a sec... That voice... You're the one who's been helping me?
"Yes. I was the voice, the ball of light, your guardian for quite some time."
The rocks above Celebi began to slowly descend, she pushed up harder, and the decent stopped.
What's wrong?
"I'm using all of my power to hold up the rocks, but I don't have the strength the hold out much longer."
What about Isaac and Regal? Are they ok?
"See for yourself, they are right beside you."
Lloyd looked where his friends were.
Isaac seemed fine, a few scratches and a small bump on the head. He couldn't see Regal, who was on the other side of Isaac, so Lloyd had to crawl over to see him.
"Some of the rocks fell on your Piplup friend, but I managed to save him before he was buried. He's very lucky."
Regal on the other hand, had changed significantly, he was no longer the Regal that Lloyd was used to. Regal was in a totally new form, his evolved form, a Metapod.
Wow, when did this happen?
"Your friend evolved after he struck Shadow, Isaac likely didn't notice since the transformation occurred right as Shadow unleashed the attack that brought down the mountain."
I'm just glad they're safe.
"Yes... Now Lloyd, listen to me. Do you know the place where you were originally found? Where you were rescued by that Chikorita?"
Not really, only what Rita told me about it.
"I need you to go there, as soon as possible. Then from there go north until you see a large, white building. In there you will find some of the answers you seek."
But how do we get out of here?
"I'll teleport you outside, when you get out, wait there because your friend is on her way."
What about you?
"I'm weak enough as it is, once you three are sent out safely, I predict my energy to completely run out."
That means... No, you can't do this!
"I'm sorry Lloyd, it is the only way. Please, do as I have requested, go to the building north of the ruins."
No, please, don't sacrifice yourself like this!
"Good luck on the rest of your journey Lloyd. Stay safe."
Before Lloyd could protest further, him and his friends were all engulfed in a bright white light. The light became so intense that Lloyd was forced to close his eyes.
When he finally opened his eyes, he was outside where the cave in occurred, a great barrier of rock stood between him and where he once was. His friends, Isaac and Regal, were right beside him, both silent and unmoving. The only thing missing was the Celebi, to whom Lloyd only had really met moments ago.
Lloyd was overwhelmed by what had just happened, he wondered why a legendary pokemon would help him, what could he possibly be worth? What could he possibly do that could warrant the attention?
Nothing... I don't even know who I am, I can't do anything...
Suddenly, Lloyd glowed bright, and after a few moments, evolved into Pikachu again.
What the? Why did I evolve?
Soon after evolving, he glowed again and evolved a second time into Raichu. The sensation of evolving twice in a row made him feel very strange.
"Lloyd, don't go thinking I'm doing this for anyone but me, I'm sure you'll find out why I need to do this in the future. For now, just stay quiet."
The voice belonged to Shadow, but something was different, he sounded disappointed about something, almost sounded like he was... worried?
Before Lloyd could reply or resist, the same dark fog that engulfed Shadows body slowly consumed Lloyd, and once again, for the second time that day, Shadow took over.
---
Isaac opened his eyes, and instantly his whole body burned with pain. He closed his eyes again, hoping by some miracle that the pain would go away as long as he kept them close, but the pain didn't leave him.
Where am I?
Slowly he remembered what had happened. Him and Regal were attacked by... something, and eventually the fight with this creature caused a cave in to bury them all.
Then why am I out here? Why am I not still buried?
He sat up, despite his body protesting this by increasing the pain, and he looked around.
Neither of the pokemon beside him were pokemon he's met before. To his left was a small, yellow pokemon that looked quite a bit like Lloyd, only smaller. Isaac didn't know what to assume about this tiny, unconscious pokemon.
The other was a large green pokemon, it looked like some kind of strange shaped egg. Isaac then clued in that this wasn't an egg of any kind, it was a Metapod, the evolution of Caterpie.
Did Regal evolve? Wow... I never even noticed.
"Good for you, Regal!"
Isaac wanted to reach out to Regal, but when he extended out his little wing like arms, even a little bit, his shoulder stung a lot, his shoulder must have been broken or something.
"Don't worry, I'll get you and whoever this little guy is out of here... somehow."
Isaac tried to stand up, and eventually managed, but his entire body hurt so bad he had to sit back down after a few seconds.
As he sat down, the little yellow pokemon began to glow.
Isaac didn't say anything, he just watched as the little pokemon became larger, and assumed a form Isaac was very familiar with. It was the same pokemon Lloyd was, Pikachu.
Isaac was about to say something, but the pokemon evolved again, and grew into Raichu.
Its gotta be Lloyd, he's got that strange evolution thing going on. But why is he here with us? Did he pull us out?
"Um... Lloyd?"
But Lloyd completely ignored him. He just, stood up and didn't say a word.
"Lloyd? Are you ok?"
Lloyd ignored him again. Isaac stood up, tried to suppress as much of the stinging pain he felt as he could, and walked over to him. Isaac was about to tap Lloyd shoulder, with the arm that he hadn't tried using earlier (and hoped this one wasn't also broken), but Lloyd fell forward just as Isaac approached.
"Ah, what's wrong?!"
Isaac was horrified at what happened next. Out of nowhere, a dark shadowy fog began to consume Lloyds body, the same darkness that covered the body of Shadow.
Wait a sec... Raichu would be right about the same size as Shadow... And Shadow used several electric attacks!
Isaac got down on the ground where he had awaken earlier, and stayed quite, hoping Lloyd or Shadow or whoever he was looking at wouldn't notice him.
It can't be... Lloyd... My friend... Is this monster?
---
Shadow stood before the cave in that he had caused. He began to charge up electricity, then unleashed it all at the rocks. His attack had no effect, and was absorbed into the earth.
"No!"
He tried again, this time he charged longer, and unleashed an even more powerful attack.
Again, nothing happened.
"I'm... too weak."
"Shadow, what the heck are you doing?"
Wait... Lloyd? How are you speaking to me?!
"Are you... You are aren't you! Your trying to save the Celebi!"
And what if I am? What business is it to you?
"Why? Why would you try to save her?"
Lloyd, if I wanted you to know, you would know, now shut up!
"But I want to help her too! Let me take control again I could do it as Raichu!"
No! I'll do this myself!
Shadow charged his body a third time, even longer then the first two times, and unleashed the built of electricity at the rocks once again. Like before, it had no effect.
Shadow fell forward, landing on his hands and knees. His breathing was loud and harsh, and his arms trembled, wanting to give way and let his body fall to the ground.
She's... Dying...
"She's still alive? How can you tell?"
I... just do. Lloyd... I'm giving you control, free her... please!
Shadow could only imagine what Lloyd was thinking of him right now. On his hands and knees, barely any life left in him, begging for him to save someone despite Shadows history of murder.
Shadow laughed. "How... Pathetic of me." He then fell forward, and allowed Lloyd to resume control.
---
Lloyd figured his body would exhausted, since even Shadow had problems doing anything. But Lloyd felt fine, no pain, wasn't tired, he was in perfect condition.
Why was Shadow so weak then?
Lloyd looked at his body, the darkness was gone, and he was still a Raichu.
He wasn't no time, that Celebi was in grave danger and Lloyd needed to act fast. Much like Shadow tried earlier, Lloyd charged his body full of electricity. He let himself get as powerful as possible, then fired a gigantic thunder bolt at the rocks where the cave in occurred. Rock debris flew everywhere, barely missing Lloyd, and both Isaac and Regal, who have yet to wake up since Lloyd had found them beside him.
There was a large hole where the thunder bolt had struck, Lloyd heard the roof above rumble, ready to collapse once again, so Lloyd ran over and dug where he thought the Celebi was. A few seconds of digging, and Lloyd felt something that wasn't a rock and pulled it out with one big tug. It was the Celebi, still breathing.
The pull caused him to fall back, pulling the Celebi with him. The mountain gave way once again to fill the hole Lloyd created.
"Looks like your gonna be all right." He said softly to the Celebi, who he held up in his arms, cradling her like a newborn.
Lloyd, as far as he knew, never seen a legendary pokemon up close before. Even in her weakened state, Lloyd could feel, almost sense, the power and strength this Celebi was capable of.
And you were ready to give it all up for me... Thank you.
Lloyd placed the Celebi down carefully, placing her next to Isaac and Regal.
"Well done Lloyd."
I would ask you why you wanted me to save her, but I'm sure your just gonna leave me in the dark as always.
"Trust me when I say this Lloyd, I didn't want to save her either."
Then why?
"Let me ask you Lloyd, what do you think I am?"
Lloyd never really thought about it, he had no idea what Shadow could possibly be.
A pokemon?
"In the past, I was, but that's no longer the case."
Lloyd didn't understand.
Then, what specifically? What do you mean you used to be a pokemon?
"I'll tell you, in exchange for your help, but you must wait until tonight, when your alone."
Aren't we alone now?
"Not for long."
Huh?
Shadow didn't respond, but soon Lloyd understood his meaning. He could now hear the sound of footsteps approaching him. Not long after, the source of the footsteps arrived, and from around the corner arrived two pokemon, a Chikorita and a Vulpix.
"Rita!" Lloyd yelled excitedly.
"Lloyd! Your ok!" Rita and the Vulpix that accompanied her ran to where Lloyd was waiting. "Where's everyone else?"
"Right here." Lloyd pointed behind him. "Isaac is unconscious, but he should be ok. I'll need you and your friends help to carry everyone out."
"Why?" Asked Rita. "What's wrong with Regal?"
Instead of answering her, Lloyd just walked over to the pokemon and picked up Regal, showing off his new form to Rita.
"Oh great, now who's gonna carry my stuff?" She said, not sounding at all please at Regal evolution.
"I'm sure you'll manage, you never needed Regal before."
Rita just grumbled under her breath, she walked over and let Lloyd place regal on top of her back. She prevented Regal from slipping off with the leaf on her head.
Lloyd then picked up Isaac. "Hey... Um... Whats your name?"
"Sakura." Answered the Vulpix.
"Hi there Sakura, would you mind carrying Isaac here for me?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Umm, no, its no problem." She walked over and allowed Lloyd to place Isaacs limp body on her back.
After passing off Isaac, Lloyd picked up the Celebi. Rita and Sakura looked at it curiously.
"Who is that? I've never seen it before." Said Rita.
"Neither have I."
"You guys never seen a Celebi before? Not even in pictures?" Asked Lloyd.
Both Sakura and Rita shook their heads.
"Seriously? Wow."
"Why?" Asked Rita. "Should I know what a 'Celebi' is?"
Lloyd frowned, he figured it was probably best not to tell everyone he was carrying around a legendary pokemon, the recent cave in probably would be enough to make him the center of attention.
"Um, nah, don't worry about it. Lets just get out of here and get these three to safety."
"K, just don't go too fast, I'm having a hard enough time keeping Regal from slipping off."
---
It wasn't long before they managed to navigate themselves out of the cave. Outside they were greeted by several pokemon, one of which was the Nidoking, Edward.
"What on earth happened in there?!"
"The roof caved in after... a pokemon attacked my friends." Lloyd hadn't thought of what exactly he was gonna say when he got out, so all he could do is just wing it. "I found them and pulled them out, this was soon before Rita and Sakura found us."
Yeah, that'll work.
"That's wonderful! Now, we need to put your friends somewhere they can rest. Er, Sakura?"
"Yes Master Edward?"
"The other pokemon in your room graduated recently correct? Why not bring everyone to your room so the injured ones can rest and you can talk with your friend there."
"Umm, but..." Sakura sighed. "Yes Master Edward..."
"Your all free to stay as long as you need, come see me before you leave to pick up your reward."
Lloyd and Rita each said thank you to Edward, then proceeded to follow Sakura, who had already began to lead to way, to her room.
For the first time since Echo Cavern, Celebi moved slightly, squirming in Lloyds arms, but soon after she was still again. Lloyd held her tightly, trying to keep her as comfertable as he could while he followed behind Sakura.